The daughter of a severely depressed patient asks the nurse "What do you think about the relationship between depression and physical illness? Since my mother has been grieving over my father's death,she has had colds,shingles,and the flu,and she's usually not one to get sick." The answer that best reflects the current thinking about psychoimmunology is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Option D best explains evidence-based thinking.Research does support a link between negative emotions and/or prolonged stress and impaired immune system functioning,such as reduced white blood cell production.Activation of the immune system sends proinflammatory cytokines to the brain,and the brain in turn releases it own cytokines that signal the central nervous system to initiate myriad responses to stress.Prolonged stress suppresses the immune system and lowers resistance to infections.Although the daughter may be more aware of issues involving her mother,the pattern of illnesses described may be an increase from the mother's baseline.

The Daughter of a Severely Depressed Patient Asks the Nurse