Define the word stressor .

Give an example for each of the following:

 Acute time-limited stressor  Brief naturalistic stressor  Chronic stressor

Explain what is meant by the immune system Describe how the immune system is affected by the stress response Outline and evaluate research into the effect of stress on the immune system

Destroys pathogens (definition: .........) and cancer cells Several types of _____ blood cell:
 Phagocytes eat pathogens  B Lymphocytes make anti____  Some T Lymphocytes kill infected cells, others

release cyto____ chemical signals in the blood that make the other parts of the immune system do their job

1. 2. a) b)

Phagocytes Lymphocytes B-cells T-cells

Immune system Pathogen White blood cell Phagocyte B Lymphocyte Antibody T helper cell Cytokine

1.

Body s resources are depleted (GAS model) so proteins for immune system cannot be manufactured. Cortisol directly suppresses immune system by decreasing production of lymphocytes, antibodies and cytokines.

Or
2.

How can we test which is true?

Effects of stress on the immune system

Kiecolt-Glaser et al. (1995)

To demonstrate the direct effects of stress on the immune system by looking at how fast wounds healed in women experiencing high levels of chronic stress.

Experimental group: 13 women caring for relatives with senile dementia, matched (age and income but not marital status) with control group. All participants given a 3.5mm puncture wound on arm, which was treated by a nurse. Levels of cytokines (hormones controlling immune system) were assessed to measure immune system activity, and stress questionnaire used. This is a natural experiment because The IV and DV are

Complete wound healing took on average 9 days - 24% - longer in carers. Cytokine levels were lower in carers. Carers indicated they felt more stressed. These three different measures were used because The conclusion of this study is

Shows that chronic stress depresses functioning of the immune system both in terms of healing and actual immune system activity. Lower cytokine levels suggest a direct effect of stress on immune system activity.

(1) Important application to medical treatment e.g. people recovering from surgery. (2) Sample bias more married women in experimental group though they should have better immune functioning (or should they?).

Aim: carers, chronic, wound healing Procedure: carer group & control, puncture wound, questionnaire, cytokines, healing Findings: 24% longer healing, cytokines low, higher stress score Conclusions: direct effect, immune system and healing Criticism: important in medicine, marital status bias?

What is a meta-review or meta-analysis ? How can we evaluate research into stress and the immune system? What are the general conclusions that can be drawn from several studies?

In what ways is the Cohen et al study superior to Kiecolt-Glaser s medical student study? In what ways is it less convincing? Are the ethical issues different? Taking these two together, with K-G s wouldhealing study, what can we conclude?

Describe and evaluate research findings into the link between stress, illness and the immune system.