New paper shows a link between strong stress reaction and severe infections

A new paper, published in the British Medical Journal by Dr. Huan Song and Dr. Unnur Anna Validmarsdóttir from the Centre of Public Health Sciences, in addition to numerous co-authors from outside the centre, shows a link between strong stress reaction after traumatic life-events and severe infections.
 

A different view on stress-related disorders
 

''Stress-related disorders are associated with considerable psychiatric comorbidity. Less well recocgnized is the physical comorbidity they're associated with, highlighting an ongoing tendency to a dualistic view of mind and body'' says Professor Jon Bissow, a professor of psychiatry at Cardiff University in an interview with the British Medical Journal. 

The objective of the study was to assess whether severe psychiatric reactions to trauma and other adversities are associated with subsequent risk of life threatening infections. 
 

Conclusion and further reading 
 

In the Swedish population, stress related disorders were associated with a subsequent risk of life-threatening infections, after controlling for familial background and physical or psychiatric comorbidities.

For those interested in the study, it can be accessed here.