Worry Affects the Immune Response to Phobic Fear

Worry, the cognitive enumeration and anticipation of potential future negative events, is associated with autonomic dysregulation, which may in turn have implications for the immune system. People endorsing high (n = 7) and normal levels of trait worry (n = 8) were briefly exposed to a phobic stimul...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Brain, behavior, and immunity behavior, and immunity, 1999-06, Vol.13 (2), p.80-92
Main Authors: Segerstrom, Suzanne C., Glover, Dorie A., Craske, Michelle G., Fahey, John L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
anxiety
autonomic reactivity
Fear - physiology
Female
Galvanic Skin Response - physiology
heart rate
Heart Rate - physiology
Humans
immune system
Immunity - physiology
Key Words: worry
Killer Cells, Natural - immunology
Lymphocyte Count
Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology
Male
natural killer cells
Phobic Disorders - immunology
Phobic Disorders - psychology
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
psychoneuroimmunology
skin conductance
stress
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:Worry, the cognitive enumeration and anticipation of potential future negative events, is associated with autonomic dysregulation, which may in turn have implications for the immune system. People endorsing high (n = 7) and normal levels of trait worry (n = 8) were briefly exposed to a phobic stimulus and the autonomic and immune responses and recovery were assessed. A time-matched control group (n = 6) was not exposed to any stimulus. Both worry groups showed increased heart rate and skin conductance in response to phobic fear. However, only the normal worry group showed a concomitant increase in natural killer cells in peripheral blood. Patterns of change during the follow-up period suggested that phobic fear had disrupted a normal circadian increase in natural killer cells. Adrenergic and hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal mechanisms may be responsible for the differences between high and normal worry groups in their natural killer cell response to and recovery from phobic fear.
ISSN:0889-1591
1090-2139
DOI:10.1006/brbi.1998.0544