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Psycho-Immunomodulatory Benefits of Aromatherapy
Published in Mehwish Iqbal, Complementary and Alternative Medicinal Approaches for Enhancing Immunity, 2023
The imbalances in the neuro-immunological system have been recognised as significant aspects and likely biomarkers for psychiatric ailments such as depression, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders (Peters et al., 2017). Psychosocial stress because of any reason, for instance, insecurity of a job, has been related to imbalances in production and secretions of neurotransmitters leading to anxiety, disturbances in sleep and adrenal fatigue (Head & Kelly, 2009). These changes may lead to several health-related problems counting gastrointestinal disturbances, headache, weakening of the immune system and cardiac diseases (Hou et al., 2017); furthermore, the imbalances in the neuroimmunological pathways may lead to cognitive dysfunctions, depression and inflammation in the neurological system, whereas the social stress may lead to an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system's supply towards the heart and may disturb the heart rate. The decreased heart rate may be seen in patients with numerous anxiety diseases, including posttraumatic stress disorder. The possible biomarkers, for instance, neuropeptide Y, CRF (corticotropin-releasing factor) and cytokines (i.e. IL-6), may specify the comorbidity between autonomic disparity and stress-related mental ailments (Wood, 2014). While at the systemic stages, causes such as obesity and psychosocial stress, particularly a leaky gastrointestinal tract, may result in the disproportion among pro-inflammatory T lymphocytes and regulatory cells (Haroon et al., 2012).
Why sense of safety? A strengths-based approach to the whole
Published in Johanna Lynch, A Whole Person Approach to Wellbeing, 2020
Stress, beyond normal challenge, is defined as ‘tolerable’ or ‘toxic’ stress based on the presence or absence of ‘the buffering protection of a supportive adult relationship’ (Shonkoff et al. 2012, e236). Fear modulation, through relationship, is a significant ‘hidden regulator’ of physiological health (Coan, Schaefer, and Davidson 2006, 1038). The extensive attachment, social stress, social rejection and loneliness literature documents the impact of both adult and childhood relationships on physiology. From wound healing and neurological pain sensitivity to cardiac death rates, inflammation, endocrine dysregulation and synaptic connectivity, experiencing relational safety impacts health (Uchino, Cacioppo, and Kiecolt-Glaser 1996, Eisenberger et al. 2011, Slavich et al. 2010, Kosfeld et al. 2005, Bartz et al. 2010, Kirsch et al. 2005, Hammock and Young 2006, Conway et al. 2018, Valtorta et al. 2016, Gouin et al. 2010, Uchino et al. 2018, Perry et al. 1995).
Psychiatric Disorders
Published in Walter F. Stanaszek, Mary J. Stanaszek, Robert J. Holt, Steven Strauss, Understanding Medical Terms, 2020
Walter F. Stanaszek, Mary J. Stanaszek, Robert J. Holt, Steven Strauss
It should be remembered, however, that psychiatry is certainly not the only medical specialty to address psychiatric disorders. Indeed, psychological factors may contribute directly or indirectly to a number of physical disorders; some physical disorders such as a lesion involving neural or endocrine organs may produce psychiatric symptoms, and psychological symptoms such as depression and anxiety are common reactions to physical illness. In its broadest sense, the term psychosomatic illness encompasses all these possibilities. In a narrower sense, psychosomatic illnesses are those in which psychological factors are of etiologic significance or exacerbate the condition. According to this definition, therefore, many chronic or recurrent disorders are at least in part psychosomatic since their progress is intimately affected by psychological and social stress; hypertension, myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus, malignancies, and rheumatoid arthritis are but a few examples.
Racial discrimination and its impact on mental health
Published in International Review of Psychiatry, 2023
Meryam Schouler-Ocak, James Kenneth Moran
Indications show that social stress may lead to enduring changes in the grey matter volume of particular brain regions. A study on brain volume measurements with healthy males with and without migration background found a significantly group by sex interaction effect in perigenual anterior cingulate cortex (pACC) grey matter volume, which was reduced in males with a migration background (Akdeniz et al., 2017). Migration status is already acknowledged as a risk factor for schizophrenia. The finding that the pACC structure may be particularly sensitive to the convergent risk factors linked to schizophrenia, suggests a neurophysiological basis for this. They speculate that males with migration background are more likely to face chronic stress in their daily life in comparison to males without a migration background. Furthermore, the authors propose the role of chronic social stress as a mediator, which may present itself as an objective for future prevention and intervention programs (Akdeniz et al., 2017).
Participants’ unspoken thoughts and feelings negatively influence the therapeutic alliance; a qualitative study in a multidisciplinary pain rehabilitation setting
Published in Disability and Rehabilitation, 2022
Davy Paap, Leonie A. Krops, Henrica R. Schiphorst Preuper, Jan H. B. Geertzen, Pieter U. Dijkstra, Grieteke Pool
Most participants felt that their autonomy was reduced by the stress caused by their chronic pain and disability. The degree of personal and social stress depended on the severity and impact of pain and disability, the pressure it exerted on the participants’ interpersonal capacities, reduced participation in life activities, and the decrease in quality of social support. The most frequently mentioned factors resulting in loss of autonomy in the medical context were uncertainty about the diagnosis and/or lack of a clear diagnosis, uncertainty about the reduction of pain, and ineffectiveness of previous treatment(s). Participants felt trapped between hope for improvement and fear of further deterioration. From the narratives of the participants it became clear that these feelings of loss of autonomy further increased dependency of participants on their healthcare professionals resulting in a more unequal relationship.
Regulating interpersonal stress: the link between heart-rate variability, physical exercise and social perspective taking under stress
Published in Stress, 2021
Jenni E. Kähkönen, Ulrike M. Krämer, Macià Buades-Rotger, Frederike Beyer
Arguably, mentalizing skills are of particular importance in ambiguous social situations, in which the other person’s intentions, motivations or emotions are difficult to identify. They’re further crucial in conflict-related social interactions, in which the other person’s views do not align with one’s own mental state or viewpoint. Such social situations can be highly stressful (Shahrestani et al., 2015), which might partially explain the link between suboptimal socio-cognitive functioning and stress-related mental health disorders: the inability to resolve interpersonal stress through cognitive processes might increase both the frequency and intensity of social stress experienced by the individual; the experienced high stress levels might in turn negatively affect both the social interactions and the mental health of the individual. Yet, the acute impact of stress on social cognition is poorly understood to date. The few studies that have been conducted yielded partially conflicting results, some showing reduced egocentric bias under stress (Cao et al., 2017; Richardson & VanderKaay Tomasulo, 2011; van Gerven et al., 2016), others a reduction in neural activity associated with social cognition (i.e. in the so-called mentalizing network; Nolte et al., 2013) and reduced mimicry under stress (Nitschke et al., 2020), others variable results depending on participant gender (Smeets et al., 2009; Tomova et al., 2014).