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A prospective diary study of the role of psychological stress and negative mood in the recurrence of herpes simplex virus (HSV1)
Author(s) -
Faulkner Susan,
Smith Andrew
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
stress and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.009
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1532-2998
pISSN - 1532-3005
DOI - 10.1002/smi.1235
Subject(s) - mood , incidence (geometry) , herpes simplex virus , clinical psychology , psychology , longitudinal study , psychological stress , negative mood , medicine , depressed mood , psychiatry , immunology , virus , pathology , physics , optics
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between psychological stress and negative mood and the recurrence of herpes simplex (HSV1). A range of standard, baseline measures of health and psychological well‐being were collected from 20 participants who suffered from HSV1 recurrences (with a history of recent recurrence) and 18 matched controls. Longitudinal data was collected over a 16‐week period using weekly diaries. Participants recorded weekly levels of psychological stress, negative mood, negative events and hassles and kept a weekly health record documenting the recurrence of HSV1 and the incidence of other infectious illness. The longitudinal relationship between stress, negative mood and recurrence of HSV was assessed. Participants who suffered from frequent HSV1 recurrences were significantly higher on standard measures of stress and negative mood than those who only suffered occasional or no recurrences. Furthermore, there was a longitudinal relationship between high levels of perceived stress and the recurrence of HSV1. It was concluded that those suffering from frequent reactivation of HSV1 may be more vulnerable to the effect of stress on immune function and, in this study, higher levels of psychological stress were associated with the subsequent reactivation of HSV1. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.