Cancer Death Risk in Hospitalized Mental Patients

Fox, Bernard H.

doi:10.1126/science.684429

Cited by 33 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…It is interesting to note that highly distressed populations such as bereaved spouses and psychiatric patients also have a greater incidence of cancer mortality than the general population (Bloom, Asher, White, 1978; Ernster, Sacks, Selvin, & Petrakis, 1979; Fox, 1978). Morever, in a 17-year prospective study using over 2,000 nonpsychiatric men, higher levels of depression were associated with a significantly higher incidence of cancer, even after correction for a number of relevant risk factors (Shekelle et al, 1981).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress depresses interferon production by leukocytes concomitant with a decrease in natural killer cell activity.

Glaser¹,

Rice²,

Speicher³

et al. 1986

Behavioral Neuroscience

230

122

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This stud3 addressed the et'l~cts of a commonplace stressful e~ent on interferon production and natural killer C NK) cell actl'-itx and numbers. The quantit.~ of interferons (IFN) produced b.~ concana~alin A stimulated leukoc.~tes obtained from 40 medical students during examinations ~as significantl.~ Io~er when compared ~ ith IFN levels produced by peripheral blood leukocytes IPBLs) taken 6 ~eeks earlier Ibaseline). In addition, three different assa.~s measuring NK cells also sho~'-ed slgnilicant decrements during examinations ,.,.hen compared with baseline samples. These assa.~s included la) I.~ sis of MOLT-4 target cells, Ib) percentage of anti-Leu-7 § INK) cells, and Ic) percentage of large granular I.vmphoc.~ tes. Self-report data documented the significantly greater d~stress associated with examinations in comparison x~ ith baseline samples. The data ha~e implications for immunosuppressive disorders and stress-associated illnesses.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stress depresses interferon production by leukocytes concomitant with a decrease in natural killer cell activity.

Glaser¹,

Rice²,

Speicher³

et al. 1986

Behavioral Neuroscience

230

122

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“…In addition, data suggest that institutionalized psychiatric patients may have a greater incidence of cancer mortality than the general population (Fox, 1978).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distress and DNA repair in human lymphocytes

et al. 1985

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This research assessed differences in DNA repair in lymphocytes from highand low-distressed individuals. A median split on Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Scale 2 divided 28 newly admitted nonpsychotic psychiatric inpatients into high-and low-distress subgroups.The high-distress subgroup had significantly poorer DNA repair in lymphocytes exposed to X-irradiation than low-distress subjects. We also found that lymphocytes obtained from this psychiatric sample had significantly poorer DATA repair than lymphocytes from nonpsychiatric control subjects when compared 5 hr after X-irradiation. A high level of distress therefore appears to be associated with significant dysfunctional differences at the molecular level which may have important implications for health. These data provide evidence for a direct pathway through which distress could influence the incidence of cancer.

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“…For example, in one 17-year study of over 2,000 nonpsychiatric men, depression was related to significantly greater cancer mortality across cancer sites, after correction for a number of relevant risk factors (Shekelle et al, 1981). Moreover, other data suggest that psychiatric patients have greater cancer mortality than nonpsychiatric populations (Fox, 1978). The data in this study provide evidence for one physiological pathway through which stress could directly influence the development of malignant disease.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of stress on methyltransferase synthesis: An important DNA repair enzyme.

Glaser¹,

Thorn²,

Tarr³

et al. 1985

Health Psychology

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The enhancement of tumor development following acute stress has been demonstrated in some animal studies. This study was designed to explore mechanisms that would account in part for the relationship between stress and tumor development at the level of DNA repair, using a rat model. Forty-four rats were given the carcinogen dimethylnitrosamine in their drinking water, and half were randomly assigned to a rotational stress condition. The levels of methyltransferase, a DNA repair enzyme induced in response to carcinogen damage, were significantly lower in spleens from the stressed animals. These data suggest that stress may impair DNA repair. Exposure to low-level carcinogens is a commonplace daily event. For example, nitrates are chemical carcinogens found in many processed meats, some American beers, and spinach. The benzopyrenes, another group of chemical Requests for reprints should be sent to

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Cancer Death Risk in Hospitalized Mental Patients

Cited by 33 publications

References 11 publications

Stress depresses interferon production by leukocytes concomitant with a decrease in natural killer cell activity.

Stress depresses interferon production by leukocytes concomitant with a decrease in natural killer cell activity.

Distress and DNA repair in human lymphocytes

Effects of stress on methyltransferase synthesis: An important DNA repair enzyme.

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