The Mind-Body Narrative: The Evolution of Psychoneuroimmunology and Its Implications for Nursing Research and Practice

The historical perception of the relationship between the mind and the body is a rich and multifaceted narrative interwoven with interdisciplinary influences and cultural connections. This paper explores mind-body medicine using a liberal arts theoretical lens, focusing on the unique contributions of philosophy, the social sciences, the natural sciences, theology, and the humanities. With these theoretical traditions set as a foundation, the evolution and formal birth of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)—a complex discipline examining the intricate connections between the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems and their impact on health—is explored. Finally, the relationship between PNI and the profession of nursing is reviewed through a careful investigation of nursing research on the topic, drawing nursing implications through empirical evidence supporting nursing’s intuitive reasoning