Customer Reviews

Stress, Immune Function, and Health: The Connection

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As someone who teaches psychoneuroimmunology, I have to face a sea of faces that are understandably perplexed and frustrated at having to synthesize information from neuroscience, endocrinology, behavior and the immune system in a meaningful way. The biggest stumbling block is the immune system. Hence, my first superlative must go to the excellent introduction to the immune system that is provided by Dr. Rabin and allows non-immunologists to fully comprehend what comes later in this book. This "later" is an excellent synthesis of experimental and theoretical information on how the numerous functions of the immune system are modulated by experimental and natural stress. Since the literature is so vast and the information so varied, Dr Rabin expertly extracted the most important concepts and messages that make this area understandable not only to those not already engaged in it, but to those still grappling with it. The clinical implications of these findings in relation to infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders are fully revealed in a balanced and scholarly fashion. This book will make an excellent teaching tool in psychoneuroimmunology courses in the behavioral sciences, and also as part of the immunology curriculum in medical school. There is also plenty here for physicians, nurses, and the layman interested in what is presently understood about behavior and its implications to immunological health.

Bruce Rabin's book provides an excellent, highly readable overview of a fascinating topic-how thoughts and emotions get into the body to influence health. It's an enormously useful, enjoyable journey into the world of psychoneuroimmunology, based on the author's knowledge and skills as both a physician and a scientist. Up-to-date and open-minded, it covers a range of topics including the effects of maternal stress on the offspring, psychoneuroimmunology and the elderly, how exercise affects immunity, and how emotions influence immune-related diseases, drawing on the latest research. An outstanding volume by a prominent researcher, it is eloquent and authoritative. Highly recommended!

I have read a number of immunology text books in my life but i have never read one as easily understood.I began reading friday evening and finished monday. the book is fascinating,well organized ,most interesting data and understandable!!!!!!!.This book is a must for everyone interested in how stress is related to illness and why each of us must develop coping mechanisms.Thank you for your efforts Dr. Rabin.You have made this world a better place with this knowledge.

This is a fascinating book that describes the effects of stress on the immune system. I've never read a book before that so clearly describes the immune system and how it works in helping to protect people from viral infections and possibly cancer. Rabin carefully documents the research that has shown a connection between stress and immune function, and is especially clear in describing how stress does this. He carefully documents his statements with research performed in animals and humans. I thoroughly enjoyed this very readable book about a complex topic -- in fact, I know of no other source that describes these relationships in such a clear manner. Although the price of the book is high, it was worth every penny to me.

This book describes the immune system in a very readable and understandable way. A glossary is provided as a simple road-map through the immune system and then goes through the fundamentals in a simple and systematic way. This is followed by sections showing how the immune system is influenced by stressful events, and also indicates how the immune system may affect brain processes (hormones and neurotransmitters)and related illnesses. The work draws from both the animal and human literature, and thus provides a very nice and understandable view of interactions between the immune system and the central nervous system. This book is ideal for courses in psychoneuroimmunology, and would be an excellent reference source for anyone interested in multidisciplinary approaches to the understanding of factors impacting on immune system functioning. In addition to being a valuable source book for scientists in the area, it would be a valuable primer for those first getting into the area, and may also be a very good handbook for physicians.