INDIVIDUAL COPING STRATEGIES AND VULNERABILITY TO STRESS PATHOLOGY

Psychosocial factors are implicated in the individual development, cou rse and recovery from disease. Studies with animal models using social interactions show that the magnitude and direction of changes in the immune-, neuroendocrine-, and cardiovascular system are highly correla ted with the social position of the animal. This relationship appears to depend on the animalxs coping strategy both in terms of behaviour a nd neuroendocrinology, and hence in immunology as well. It is argued t hat disease processes should be considered as a function of the baseli ne behavioural, neuroendocrine, and immunological state.