Psychological interventions and the immune system: A meta-analytic review and critique

This article reviews evidence for the hypothesis that psychological interve ntions can modulate the immune response in humans and presents a series of models depicting the psychobiological pathways through which this might occ ur. Although more than 85 trials have been conducted, meta-analyses reveal only modest evidence that interventions can reliably alter immune parameter s. The most consistent evidence emerges from hypnosis and conditioning tria ls. Disclosure and stress management show scattered evidence of success. Re laxation demonstrates little capacity to elicit immune change. Although the se data provide only modest evidence of successful immune modulation, it wo uld be premature to conclude that the immune system is unresponsive to psyc hological interventions. This literature has important conceptual and metho dological issues that need to be resolved before any definitive conclusions can be reached.