Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (34)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Walker, J. G.
Right arrow Articles by Cutolo, M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Walker, J. G.
Right arrow Articles by Cutolo, M.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Rheumatology 1999; 38: 1050-1057
© 1999 British Society for Rheumatology

Reviews

Stress system response and rheumatoid arthritis: a multilevel approach

J. G. Walker, G. O. Littlejohn1, N. E. McMurray and M. Cutolo2

School of Behavioural Science, The University of Melbourne,
1 Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia and
2 Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

Correspondence to: M. Cutolo, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genoa, Italy.

A growing body of research indicates that the stress system, and its interactions with the immune system, play a pivotal role in the aetiology and progression of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The stress system has multiple levels and comprises physiological, psychological and environmental components. However, most investigations in RA that involve the stress system tend to focus on the interrelationships between neuroendocrine and immune function, and related disease activity, with little regard for the role of other aspects of stress system activation, including psychological variables. This is despite the fact that psychological stressors, and related psychological variables, are known to influence RA disease activity. This article aims to explore the multiple levels of stress system activation and how they may ultimately influence disease-related outcomes in RA. Some measurement issues of psychological stress will also be examined.

KEY WORDS: Rheumatoid arthritis, Stress system, Stressors, Psychosocial factors, Neuroendocrine functioning, Immune functioning


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
T. Matsuzaki, A. Nakajima, S. Ishigami, M. Tanno, and S. Yoshino
Mirthful laughter differentially affects serum pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels depending on the level of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatology, February 1, 2006; 45(2): 182 - 186.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 LupusHome page
M Cutolo
Sex hormone adjuvanting therapy in rheumatoid arthritis
Lupus, October 1, 2002; 11(10): 670 - 674.
[PDF]

Home page
 Rheumatology (Oxford)Home page
R. H. Straub, J. Georgi, K. Helmke, P. Vaith, and B. Lang
In polymyalgia rheumatica serum prolactin is positively correlated with the number of typical symptoms but not with typical inflammatory markers
Rheumatology, April 1, 2002; 41(4): 423 - 429.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Psychosom. Med.Home page
A. J. Zautra and B. W. Smith
Depression and Reactivity to Stress in Older Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis
Psychosom Med, July 1, 2001; 63(4): 687 - 696.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch DermatolHome page
F. A. Tausk and H. Nousari
Stress and the Skin
Arch Dermatol, January 1, 2001; 137(1): 78 - 82.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann Rheum DisHome page
M. CUTOLO and R. H STRAUB
Recent aspects of gonadal hormone and neurotransmitter interactions with synovial and immune cells: implications in rheumatoid arthritis
Ann Rheum Dis, September 1, 2000; 59(9): 657 - 661.
[Full Text]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.