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Review
. 2010;12(3):R89.
doi: 10.1186/ar3016. Epub 2010 May 17.

Experimental stress in inflammatory rheumatic diseases: a review of psychophysiological stress responses

Sabine J M de Brouwer  1 , Floris W Kraaimaat, Fred C G J Sweep, Marjonne C W Creemers, Timothy R D J Radstake, Antoinette I M van Laarhoven, Piet L C M van Riel, Andrea W M Evers
Affiliations
Review

Experimental stress in inflammatory rheumatic diseases: a review of psychophysiological stress responses

Sabine J M de Brouwer et al. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010.

Abstract

Introduction: Stressful events are thought to contribute to the aetiology, maintenance and exacerbation of rheumatic diseases. Given the growing interest in acute stress responses and disease, this review investigates the impact of real-life experimental psychosocial, cognitive, exercise and sensory stressors on autonomic, neuroendocrine and immune function in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

Methods: Databases Medline, PsychINFO, Embase, Cinahl and Pubmed were screened for studies (1985 to 2009) investigating physiological stress responses in inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Eighteen articles met the inclusion criteria.

Results: Results suggest that immune function may be altered in response to a stressor; such alterations could contribute to the maintenance or exacerbation of inflammatory rheumatic diseases during stressful events in daily life.

Conclusions: This review emphasizes the need for more experimental research in rheumatic populations with controlled stress paradigms that include a follow-up with multiple evaluation points, simultaneous assessment of different physiological stress systems, and studying factors contributing to specific physiological responses, such as stress appraisal.

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Comment in

  • The role of stress in rheumatic diseases.
    Hassett AL, Clauw DJ. Hassett AL, et al. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010;12(3):123. doi: 10.1186/ar3024. Epub 2010 Jun 7. Arthritis Res Ther. 2010. PMID: 20587002 Free PMC article.

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