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Journal of Pediatric Psychology Advance Access originally published online on September 10, 2007
Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2008 33(2):195-207; doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsm076
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© The Author 2007. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Pediatric Psychology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Review of the Literature: Integrating Psychoneuroimmunology into Pediatric Chronic Illness Interventions

Jack H. Nassau, PhD1,2, Karen Tien, PhD1,2 and Gregory K. Fritz, MD1,2

1Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital and 2The Walter Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI

All Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Jack H. Nassau, Bradley Hasbro Children's Research Center, CORO Center West – Suite 204, 1 Hoppin Street, Providence, RI 02903. E-mail: jack_nassau{at}brown.edu.


  Abstract

Objective Provide an orientation to psychoneuroimmunology, a rationale for including assessments of immune function in intervention studies of pediatric chronic illness, review the current literature, and provide recommendations for future research. Methods Using electronic searches and previous reviews, selected and reviewed published studies in which immunological changes related to psychological interventions were assessed in pediatric samples. Results Eight studies were identified and included in the review. These utilized a range of interventions (e.g., disclosure and hypnosis) and included a variety of pediatric samples (e.g., those with asthma, HIV infection, or lupus). Conclusions Results suggest that psychological intervention can influence immune function in pediatric samples. Recommendations for advancing our knowledge by studying populations for whom the immune system plays an active role in disease pathophysiology, measuring disease-relevant immune mediators, studying pediatric patients under times of stress, and focusing on interventions aimed at altering the stress system are provided.

Key words: intervention; pediatric chronic illness; psychoneuroimmunology; review.

Received March 22, 2006; revision received July 27, 2007; accepted August 9, 2007


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