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Psychological influences on the perception of immune function
K J Petrie1, R J Booth, H Elder
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, University of Auckland Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, New Zealand.
Psychological Medicine
|April 28, 1999
Summary
People’s perceptions of their immune system are linked to their mood, not actual immune cell counts. Feelings of fatigue and vigor significantly influence how individuals perceive their immune function.
Area of Science:
- Psychoneuroimmunology
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Patient complaints regarding perceived immune deficiencies are common.
- Understanding how individuals perceive their immune system competence is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between perceived immune functioning, physical symptoms, mood, and objective measures of immunity.
- To explore factors influencing self-perceptions of immune competence.
Main Methods:
- Two studies involving healthy volunteers assessing immune perceptions, mood, and symptoms over 5 weeks.
- Objective immune measures included serum antibodies (IgA, IgG, IgM) and lymphocyte concentrations (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD16).
Main Results:
- Perceptions of immune functioning did not correlate with serum antibody or lymphocyte levels.
- Immune perceptions were strongly associated with mood, particularly fatigue and vigor.
- Physical symptoms also showed a notable, though weaker, relationship with immune perceptions.
Conclusions:
- Mood states appear to be a significant determinant of perceived immune function.
- Clinical evaluations of immune dysfunction complaints should consider the influence of mood.