A cacophony of cytokines explains the biopsychosocial interaction model of mental and physical disease

• Main Author: James A Morris (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Archives of Depression and Anxiety - Peertechz Publications, 2018-10-23.
• Subjects: Case Study
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

<p>Social, psychological and biological factors interact to cause both mental and physical disease.</p><p>Chronic low grade infl ammation is a risk factor for many conditions including atherosclerosis and its</p><p>complications, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity and depression. The infl ammatory response is designed</p><p>to protect against pathogenic micro-organisms but in the process some damage to our own tissues</p><p>is inevitable. The process is complicated and is orchestrated by cytokines (intercellular messengers).</p><p>Adaptive physiological responses to the many stresses of everyday life are also orchestrated by cytokines.</p><p>The responses are nuanced and each variation involves a different specifi c tune. But if the response to</p><p>stress runs at the same time as the infl ammatory response there will be a cacophony. The infl ammatory</p><p>response will be sub-optimal increasing tissue damage and the physiological response to stress will be</p><p>sub-optimal converting normal emotions into pathological mental states. Sleep, pregnancy and appetite</p><p>control are also complex physiological states orchestrated by cytokines. They will be sub-optimal in</p><p>the presence of chronic infl ammation. Infl ammation can be overt as in dental caries and periodontitis,</p><p>or covert as in the carriage of bacterial pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus within an epithelial</p><p>surface. We must seek to modify the bacterial fl ora in order to prevent disease. It is suggested that the</p><p>natural substance with most potential for achieving this aim is yoghurt.</p>