Measurement of Immune Response

Abstract The field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) has grown very rapidly in the last decade; a number of studies have shown immunological alterations in response to commonplace stressful events such as academic examinations (Glaser et al., 1990), as well as transient laboratory stressors such as mental arithmetic (Kiecolt-Glaser, Cacioppo, Malarkey, & Glaser, 1992). In addition, although data are limited, chronic stressors have been linked to the longer-term down-regulation of immune function (Baum, Cohen, & Hall, 1993; Kiecolt-Glaser, Dura, Speicher, Trask, & Glaser, 1991), and diverse interventions appear capable of modulating various aspects of immune function (Kiecolt-Glaser & Glaser, 1992). Although the evidence is still preliminary, these immunological changes appear to have consequences for health (Cohen, Tyrrell, & Smith, 1991; Glaser et al., 1987; Kasl, Evans, & Niederman, 1979).