Synopsis
Psychoneuroimmunology is the study of interactions between the brain and the immune system. This book provides a clearly written, extensively referenced summary of the behavioral, neural and endocrine regulation of immune responses and of the effects of immune system activity on neural and endocrine functions and behavior. It goes beyond previous editions, not only in the amount of basic research that is covered, but by the inclusion of several chapters that address the clinical implications of psychoneuroimmunology for a variety of disease processes. The underlying premise, evidenced by content of this book, is that the brain and immune system represent a single, integrated system of defense.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer:Marion C. Cohen, PhD(University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-NJMS)
Description:This two-volume work attempts to integrate a number of biological processes to show how the behavioral, neural, and endocrine systems influence immunologically-based diseases and in turn, how immune processes affect diseases believed to be primarily of behavioral, endocrine, or neurologic origin. The previous edition was published in 2001.
Purpose:It is hoped that the book will promote interdisciplinary research in the laboratory and in the clinic and, as such, it is addressed to a broad audience. As noted in the preface, this theme of interdisciplinary integration is now endorsed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and thus the approach taken in the development of this book reflects the current paradigm in research and clinical activities. The fields that are represented change so rapidly that it is clear that the time had come for a new edition.
Audience:The audience includes laboratory and clinical investigators in endocrinology, immunology, neurochemistry, neurophysiology, pharmacology, psychiatry, psychology, virology, and medical specialists in such areas as allergic and infectious diseases, neurology, oncology, and rheumatology. There are probably other investigators who will find these volumes useful as well. The editor, section editors, and authors are all experts in their specific areas.
Features:The book is divided into five sections, each with a specific theme. These divisions and the chapter titles are somewhat different from the third edition, although there are authors who have chapters in both editions. In general, the titles of most chapters suggest that they have been written to emphasize the crosstalk between two or more systems. The chapters are well written with reasonably up-to-date references (always a problem in a multiauthored book). Illustrations and tables have been included where they serve a good purpose but there are not many. An unusual feature is a list of the authors of the references at the end of each chapter with the page where the reference appears, making it possible to find the context in which an investigator has been referenced.
Assessment:This is a unique set that presents an examination of the relationship between the immune/inflammatory, behavioral, neural, and endocrine systems. How these various systems interact needs to be defined so that better strategies for therapeutic intervention can be developed. The chapters are of high quality and full of information that indicates that no longer can these systems be considered separate and distinct.