Stress-Related Changes in Proinflammatory Cytokine Production in Wounds

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Abstract
MANY STUDIES1,2 in psychosomatic medicine have shown that greater fear or distress before surgical procedures is associated with poorer outcomes, including longer hospital stays, more postoperative complications, and higher rates of readmission to a hospital. One key psychobiological mechanism is suggested by evidence that stress slows wound healing. For example, in women caring for a relative with Alzheimer disease, a small, standardized dermal wound took 24% longer to heal than in well-matched controls.3 Further research demonstrated that even a transient, commonplace stressor—academic examinations—could substantially delay mucosal wound repair: wounds placed on the hard palate 3 days before a major test healed an average of 40% slower than those made in the same persons during summer vacation.4