Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Human Ex vivo Wound Model and Whole-Mount Staining Approach to Accurately Evaluate Skin Repair
Published on: February 17, 2021
Psychological stress and wound healing in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Jessica Walburn1, Kavita Vedhara, Matthew Hankins
1Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Psychology, King's College London, SE1 9RT London, UK. jessica.walburn@kcl.ac.uk
Objective:
The current review aims to synthesize existing knowledge about the relationship between psychological stress and wound healing.
Methods:
A systematic search strategy was conducted using electronic databases to search for published articles up to the end of October 2007. The reference lists of retrieved articles were inspected for further studies and citation searches were conducted. In addition, a meta-analysis of a subset of studies was conducted to provide a quantitative estimation of the influence of stress on wound healing.
Results:
Twenty-two papers met the inclusion criteria of the systematic review and a subsample of 11 was included in a meta-analysis. The studies assessed the impact of stress on the healing of a variety of wound types in different contexts, including acute and chronic clinical wounds, experimentally created punch biopsy and blister wounds, and minor damage to the skin caused by tape stripping. Seventeen studies in the systematic review reported that stress was associated with impaired healing or dysregulation of a biomarker related to wound healing. The relationship between stress and wound healing estimated by the meta-analysis was r=-0.42 (95% CI=-0.51 to -0.32) (P<.01).
Conclusion:
Attention now needs to be directed towards investigating potential moderators of the relationship, mediating mechanisms underpinning the association, as well as the demonstration of a causal link by the development of experimental interventions in healthy populations.
Related Concept Videos
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
Psychological Responses to Stress
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
Phases of Wound Repair
Formation of Blood Clot
In case of deep injuries, trauma to blood vessels results in blood loss. In the meantime, phospholipids released from the ruptured endothelial cellular membrane are converted into arachidonic...
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...