This volume contains the contributions to the "3rd Expert Meeting in Psychoneuroimmunology", held in Munich, Germany in autumn 1997. Clinical psychiatrists, neuroscientists and researchers in basic immuno logy from Europe and the USA gather together annually at this new tra ditional meeting to discuss new findings and trends in the relationship between psychiatric disorders and the immune system. Pinpointed at the Munich meeting in particular were the possible influence of viral infec tions on psychiatric disorders, especially schizophrenia, and the possible pathophysiological mechanisms affecting psychiatric disorders. These mechanisms include viral-induced alteration, cytokine production, and the role of the HLA system. One chapter is devoted to the influence of viral infections during pregnancy; another to the first results of experimental therapy especial ly regarding the immune system. The immunological aspects not only of schizophrenia but also of depression, anxiety disorders, sleep and headache were also discussed at the meeting, and two further chapters cover methodological aspects related to clinical and experimental pitfalls in psychoneuroimmunology. The psychoneuroimmunology of psychiatric disorders is a rapidly expanding field, and research is increasing on the therapeutic aspects. This is reflected by one of the main themes of the "4th Expert Meeting in Psychoneuroimmunology", jointly held in autumn 1998 in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with the Stanley Foundation Meeting in Neurovirology, devoted to therapeutic strategies deriving from psychoneuroimmunolo gical findings. The "5th Expert Meeting in Psychoneuroimmunology" will be held in 1999 in Innsbruck, Austria.

This publication offers cutting-edge information about basic neurochemical and neuroimmunological research as well as clinical studies of immunological disarrangements and immunological dysfunctions in psychiatric disorders. Psychiatrists and immunologists in the clinic, and researchers in basic sciences will also find this book essential reading. Likewise, it will be relevant to graduate and undergraduate students with a special interest in the neurobiology of psychiatric disorders.'

This handbook is currently in development, with individual articles publishing online in advance of print publication. At this time, we cannot add information about unpublished articles in this handbook, however the table of contents will continue to grow as additional articles pass through the review process and are added to the site. Please note that the online publication date for this handbook is the date that the first article in the title was published online.

Mind-body interactions have been the subject of debate for many generations. However, it is only in recent years that these interactions have become the subject of rigorous scientific enquiry. Advances in our understanding of the stress process, the endocrine and immune systems and the methodologies used to investigate these phenomena have resulted in an explosion of research activity in the field known as Psychoneuroimmunology.

Psychoneuroimmunology is the emerging science devoted to studying the two-way relationship between the nervous and immune systems. Psychoneuroimmunology, Stress, and Infection highlights the latest information concerning microbial infections in both man and animals as related to stress and especially stress hormones. The volume focuses on psychoneuroimmunology as it impacts the immune system in general and also the relationship between neurological events which influence susceptibility and/or resistance to infectious agents such as bacteria, fungi and viruses, as well as parasites. Prominent researchers describe the involvement of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis on immunity as a function of the nervous system. The text discusses hormones such as prolactin and growth hormone and steroid induced susceptibility to infection and neuropeptides, including vasoactive intestinal peptide, and substance P. The effects of catacholamines on immunity and susceptibility to infection are also covered. This reference also details the involvement of immune cells in the synthesis of neuropeptides, including hormones and endorphins, their effect on the brain as well as the effects of interleukins and tumor necrosis factor on the central nervous system. The book concludes with an interesting look at the relationship between aging, psychoneuroimmunology, and infection. Although there is much new knowledge concerning the nature and mechanism of immune responses, including the mediators involved, Psychoneuroimmunology, Stress, and Infection also presents important discussions and reviews that are long overdue and provide a major contribution to the area of biomedical knowledge in general and psychoneuroimmunology in particular.

This publication presents evidence about the magnitude and severe consequences of comorbidity of mental and physical illnesses from a personal and societal perspective. Leading experts address the huge burden of co-morbidity to the affected individual as well as the public health aspects, the costs to society and interaction with factors stemming from the context of socioeconomic developments. The authors discuss the clinical challenge of managing cardiovascular illnesses, cancer, infectious diseases and other physical illness when they occur with a range of mental and behavioral disorders, including substance abuse, eating disorders and anxiety. Also covered are the organization of health services, the training of different categories of health personnel and the multidisciplinary engagement necessary to prevent and manage comorbidity effectively. The book is essential reading for general practitioners, internists, public health specialists, psychiatrists, cardiologists, oncologists, medical educationalists and other health care professionals.

An innovative and integrative avenue toward understanding and treating mental health disorders Psychoimmunology is a rapidly maturing area of scientific endeavor that provides a compelling integrative link between the immune system and its response to stress and psychiatric illness. Stress initiates pathological changes by activating the immune and endocrine systems. Inflammation is at the core of the complex and interactive systems that both contribute to and result from psychopathology. Consequently, inflammation research advances our knowledge of the pathology of depression, schizophrenia, chronic fatigue syndrome, posttraumatic stress disorder and a host of co- morbid conditions, notably diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cerebrovascular disease. The possible mechanisms underlying the bidirectionality of co-morbid medical and psychiatric disorders can be viewed as a consequence of inflammatory changes. These emerging novel concepts illustrate how the knowledge of inflammation can enable meaningful integration of psychopathology with physical co- morbidity. The innovative articles in this volume highlight the intricate link between psychiatry and psychoimmunology and underscore the central role of inflammation in furthering our understanding of the pathophysiology underlying mental health and illness.