ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an updated review of scientific and clinical research in psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology, neuroscience, and the impact of stress, depression, and trauma on health. Psychosomatic medicine is a clinical and scientific field, founded on the concept that mind and body are integral aspects of human function. The main goals of the psychosomatic approach include building bridges between psych and soma, overcoming the mind-body dichotomy, understanding the interactions among biologic, psychologic, and social aspects in every patient, and developing a system based perspective and knowledge based on clinical and scientific research. Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology is an evolving multidisciplinary field, encompassing and elucidating the interactions among behaviours and the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. In addition to the brain, the enteric nervous system, which is the intrinsic nervous system of the gut, made up of an extensive network of neurons and neurotransmitters, is also referred to as the “second brain” of the body.
