Faculty Articles
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Cancer and Clinical Oncology
ISSN
1927-4858
Publication Date
1-5-2013
Abstract
Objective: Chronic stress is widespread, and is detrimental to immune functioning and to overall physical and emotional health. These effects may be potentiated in patients with chronic illness, as high levels of chronic stress are common in this population. Numerous studies support the efficacy of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in improving psychological functioning. If a strong relationship is found between MBSR and immune function, then MBSR may be implemented as a strategy to improve immune functioning and overall well-being.
Methods: In the present review paper, the relationship between MBSR and immune function is evaluated. Empirical studies measuring immune markers as they relate to a standard MBSR intervention were reviewed. Relevant articles primarily involved patients with cancer or HIV. Therefore, the associations of immune measures with psychological distress are discussed, with an emphasis on patients with these conditions. A psychoneuroimmunological (PNI) framework was utilized to propose a mechanism for the relationship between MBSR and immune function.
Results: Overall, the findings support a positive relationship between MBSR intervention and beneficial immunological outcomes. Variability in immune measures assessed across studies precludes pooling data to develop more conclusive results.
Conclusions: MBSR has been shown to consistently improve emotional functioning and quality of life, and these effects appear to facilitate immune function.
DOI
10.5539/cco.v2n1p62
Volume
2
Issue
1
First Page
62
Last Page
72
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.
NSUWorks Citation
Zeichner, R. L.,
Kibler, J. L.,
Zeichner, S. B.
(2013). Relationship between Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Immune Function in Cancer and HIV/AIDS. Cancer and Clinical Oncology, 2(1), 62-72.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/824
Comments
This the publisher's PDF from Cancer and Clinical Oncology which can also be located on the publisher's website at the following URL:
http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/cco/article/view/22933