The link between religion and health : psychoneuroimmunology and the faith factor / edited by Harold G. Koenig, Harvey Jay Cohen.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Koenig, Harold G. (Harold George), 1951-

Cohen, Harvey Jay.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Psychoneuroimmunology.

Faith--Physiological aspects.

Faith.

Physical Description:

xii, 304 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2002.

Summary:

This book is the first to present new medical research establishing a connection between religion and health and to examine the implications for Eastern and Western religious traditions and for society and culture. The distinguished list of contributors examine a series of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) topics that relate to religious faith and behavior. PNI studies the relationships between mental states and the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Among the issues it focuses upon are how mental states, in general, and belief states, in particular, affect physical health. The contributors argue that religious involvement and belief can affect certain neuroendocrine and immune mechanisms, and that these mechanisms, in turn, susceptibility to cancer and recovery following surgery. This volume is essential reading for those interested in the relationship between religion and health.

Contents:

The connection between psychoneuroimmunology and religion / Harold G. Koenig

The development and history of psychoneuroimmunology / George F. Solomon

Understanding how stress affects the physical body / Bruce S. Rabin

Stress, natural killer cells, and cancer / Ronald B. Herberman

Psychosocial interventions and prognosis in cancer / David Spiegel and Fawzy I. Fawzy

Psychosocial stress, social networked, and susceptibility to infection / Sheldon Cohen

Psychosocial factors, immunity, and wound healing / Harold G. Koenig and Harvey Jay Cohen

Psychosocial factors, spirituality/religiousness, and immune function in HIV/AIDS patients / Gail Ironson and Neil Schneiderman

Hostility, neuroendocrine changes, and health outcomes / Redford B. Williams

Psychological stress and autoimmune disease / Harold G. Koenig and Harvey Jay Cohen

Immune, neuroendocrine, and religious measures / Bruce S. Rabin and Harold G. Koenig

Psychoneuroimmunology and eastern religious traditions / Paul J. Griffiths

Psychoneuroimmunology and western religious traditions / Warren S. Brown

Psychoneuroimmunology and religion: Implications for society and culture / Howard L. Kaye

Avenues for future research / Harvey Jay Cohen and Harold G. Koenig.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0195143604

OCLC:

45556186