Psychoneuroimmunology and Immune System Link for Stress, Depression, Health Behaviors, and Breast Cancer

This article reviews the literature on psychoneuroimmunology and its theoretical underpinnings. It also reviews research related to the immune-system-link of stress, chronic stress, depression and health behaviors to breast cancer. Although the relationship between psychological characteristics and the immune system have been documented repeatedly, the significance of these effects has not been demon-strated in many studies empirically. The question whether the use of alternative therapies contributes to decreasing the progression of the diseased is often asked. Research in the area of psychoneuroimmunology can provide the answer to this question. Alternative Health Practitioner, Vol 4, No. 2, Summer 1998 Psychoneuroimmunology is a rapidly evolving science concerned with the bidirection-al interactions between the central nervous system (mediating psychological and biological processes) and the immune system (Solomon, 1987). The influence of one’s psychological state on immune function is moderated by the nervous system and the endocrine system (Birney,1991). The study of stress and the immune system has influenced the use of alternative therapies. Cancer may surpass heart disease as a leading cause of death by the year 2000 (Cole, 1988; Cole & Amoateng-Adjepong, 1994). Increased survival and a desire for an improved quality of life motivate cancer patients to seek alternative therapies as a means to cope with their disease (Richardson et al.,1997). Increasing numbers of Americans who have cancer visit alternative practitio-ners (Cassileth, Lusk, Stroose, & Bodenheimer, 1984; Eisenberg et al., 1993). The relationships between psychological/behavioral characteristics and the immune system have been repeatedly documented, however, the significance of these effects has not been demonstrated empirically, therefore evidence remains controversial. Whe