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Psychoneuroimmunology. Part II: Mind-body interventions.
1Phyllis F. Cantor Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. sbauerwu@partners.org
Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing
|June 29, 2002
Summary
Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) offers a scientific basis for integrative therapies, including mind-body approaches. These therapies, valuable for cancer patients, utilize sensory, cognitive, expressive, and physical mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Integrative oncology
- Mind-body medicine
- Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)
Background:
- PNI serves as the scientific foundation for numerous integrative therapies.
- Mind-body interventions are increasingly recognized for their role in supportive cancer care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the scientific basis of PNI in integrative cancer therapies.
- To categorize the mechanisms of PNI-based mind-body interventions.
Main Methods:
- Categorization of PNI interventions into four general mechanisms: sensory, cognitive, expressive, and physical.
- Analysis of how these mechanisms are applied in integrative therapies, sometimes in combination.
Main Results:
- PNI interventions encompass sensory, cognitive, expressive, and physical modalities.
- These mechanisms can be employed individually or in combination within therapies.
Conclusions:
- PNI provides a valuable framework for understanding and applying integrative therapies in oncology.
- Despite limitations as a purely biomedical model, PNI supports the use of mind-body therapies for cancer patients.