Very interesting. What about the role of physical activity and exercise on these relationships?

Absolutely!

yes of course.It is so amazing topic.I will be glad to contribute in it.

Then hope we complete the sample size of our research on time!

Yes, I am!

Hi

here is the link you requested: Physical health and mental health are inextricably linked. Action is needed to improve the physical health of people with mental health problems, and to make mental health a key public health priority.

http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/our-work/policy/physical-health-and-mental-health/

Hello Andrew,

Please provide a bit more info ; involvment; requirements; and committment. I have some research; and training in Kinesiology as well as Psychology.

Dr. Franklin, LCPC

Washington , DC/ Baltimore, MD

Hi all, thanks for the feedback; I will be in touch over the coming week with further information. AK

Andrew,

I would be quite interested particularly around the topic of the relationship between thermoregulation, inflammatory response and the fight or flight response.

I'm interested if there is room for critical and integrative reviews

Thanks Gavin, yes, there would certainly be room for such submissions.

Yes I would be interested

@Gavin I'd like to hear about the methodologies you would consider using to that end.

Very interesting subject. I would like to participate.

Great idea, but needs more explanation. General influence of exercises, mental health, and disease on wellness, good mood and stamina seems be established, we discuss only what does it mean "happiness" now - it may be very individual and is hard to measure.

Yes, count me in. The mind and body do have cause and effect on each other. My background is in health sciences and psychology with exercise science as a minor specialty area. I now teach community health in academia but have worked in cardio-pulmonary rehab and also as an exercise physiologist. From an experiential point of view, I have no doubt that there are strong correlations among emotion, physical health and longevity. Teasing out these links would be very interesting.

There is obviously a lot of interest in this topic. It is clearly a hot topic and an important one, with tremendous opportunity for input from a variety of disciplines and fields with different perspectives. Here is a little more information relating to my research topic. Please note that this is still in draft format and is yet to be formally accepted by the Chief Editors of Frontiers in Psychology (of which I am an Associate Editor). Perhaps as a group we can further develop the proposal:

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Tentative Research Topic title: Mechanisms underpinning the link between emotion, physical health and longevity

Biological psychology and neuroscience has embraced the study of emotion, yet the disciplines are at a crossroads over the psychobiological basis of emotion.1 This crossroads may relate, in part, to recent research interest on the brain, largely sidelining the body as a passive observer. The link between brain and body, however, has important implications for understanding the relationship between our mental and physical lives as well as our general physical health. A variety of factors have been proposed for linking specific aspects along the pathway from emotion experience to morbidity and mortality (e.g. psychological flexibility,2 autonomic system function,3) inflammatory factors,4), however with few exceptions, the pathways remain to be fully fleshed out.

The goal of this research topic is to bring together leading experts on the relationship between emotion and health, who will present the most up-to-date research on psychobiological mechanisms linking day-to-day emotion experience with physical health and mortality. While this is a broad topic, submitted manuscripts must be relevant to the discipline of psychology.

Researchers from diverse disciplines and fields including but not limited to, health psychology, positive psychology, embodied cognition, cognitive neuropsychiatry, psychophysiology, the neurosciences, epidemiology and public health are invited to submit manuscripts.

Suitable manuscripts will include a focus on the relationships between mind, brain and body that highlight the implications for health and wellbeing. Experimental work and review articles in animals and humans will be welcomed, as will studies based on cross-sectional as well as longitudinal research designs. Application of sophisticated statistical modeling including conditional process analysis and structural equation modeling of key factors is encouraged. Intervention studies to increase health and wellbeing either in healthy or patient cohorts would also be an excellent addition to this research topic.

References

1. Lindquist, K. A., Siegel, E. H., Quigley, K. S. & Barrett, L. F. The hundred-year emotion war: Are emotions natural kinds or psychological constructions? Comment on Lench, Flores, and Bench (2011). Psychol Bull 139, 255–263 (2013).

2. Kashdan, T. B. & Rottenberg, J. Psychological flexibility as a fundamental aspect of health. Clin Psychol Rev 30, 865–878 (2010).

3. Thayer, J. F., Yamamoto, S. S. & Brosschot, J. F. The relationship of autonomic imbalance, heart rate variability and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Int J Cardiol 141, 122–131 (2010).

4. Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., McGuire, L., Robles, T. F. & Glaser, R. Emotions, morbidity, and mortality: new perspectives from psychoneuroimmunology. Annu. Rev. Psychol. 53, 83–107 (2002).

great topic Andrew, I think that neurogenesis and inflammation are particularly interesting areas in this field - myself and Rodney are collecting human EEG data using a cognitive test very sensitive to neurogenesis this year as part of our biomarker work.. happy to contribute a review of some sorts if there's still room.. otherwise another person you should consider is Michael Berk who has done a tonne of work on oxidative stress and psychiatric disorders..

Ok people, my research topic is live: http://www.frontiersin.org/Emotion_Science/researchtopics/Mechanisms_underpinning_the_li/2668 Get your abstracts in! #emotion #health #longevity

Yes, it is an interesting topic

Great idea. I am very much interested in it. I am a neurophysiotherapy doing researches on physical health, mental health and neurology. Send me the protocl for contribution. you can send to [email protected].

Completed my MSc thesis a few years back on the Psychological benefits of exercising understanding gender, age and frequency differences. I focused on Mood states, optimism, perceived stress and self-efficacy. The sample was accessed through a university health and fitness centre and through lectures and seminars at the same university - sample size was approximately 200.

Exercise as an intervention for improving health status is always something I have been keen on exploring more and that's why I find your research topic so interesting.

I wouldn't mind throwing my opinion in on this if OK?

Michael, please do!

Great topic. What should I do if I wanted to colaborate?

Thanks.

Regards.

Rafa

Dear Rafa, thanks for your interest. Please visit our homepage at Frontiers for author guidelines. Link is: http://www.frontiersin.org/Emotion_Science/researchtopics/Mechanisms_underpinning_the_li/2668

Regards,

AK

Thanks for your answer.

I wil definitely have a look to it.

This is a very interesting topic and more and more evidence that the psyche has a decisive impact on human health. We can observe the negative impact of stress on our health (diseases and shortening of life). We already know it comes to shortening of telomeres and reduce the number of lymphocytes and the weakening of their functions. I'm going to deal with this problem more broadly. Beata

If you have any interesting topics about psyche and soma please let mi know.

Thanks Beata, I cannot recommend Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory highly enough. It has completely transformed the way I think about psychiatric illness: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0393707008/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?qid=1304437429&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&sr=8-1

I currently working on an intervention study whether a specific type of physical exercises can reduce stress levels at work and improve resilience & well-being. Interested?

This would certainly be relevant Hildegard. Do you have data that you could base an article on?

Hi, Mr. O'Rourke! I am conducting (finishing, by the way) a research on the influence of aerobic exercise in endocannabinoids(Ecs) in patients with migraine. Recent evidences have strengthened the idea that Ecs are involved in reward and positive affect after exercise. Is that interesting to you? Kind regards,

Certainly, a potentially productive and important topic. We are at a preliminary stage of exploring the issue of healing: its definition, epistemiology, empirical data in different settings. Best wishes

I am Andrea Carmen Guimarães professor and coordinator of the course in Physical Education, Federal University of São João del Rei, have several of profetos in the area of elderly and disabled. And interesos me to participate. We also work in partnership with the psychology course at the University where my lab is mounted.

I thank the attention.

I am Andrea Carmen Guimarães professor and coordinator of the course in Physical Education, Federal University of São João del Rei, have several of profetos in the area of elderly and disabled. And interesos me to participate. We also work in partnership with the psychology course at the University where my lab is mounted.

I thank the attention.

I am Andrea Carmen Guimarães professor and coordinator of the course in Physical Education, Federal University of São João del Rei, have several of profetos in the area of elderly and disabled. And interesos me to participate. We also work in partnership with the psychology course at the University where my lab is mounted.

I thank the attention.

Thank you Andrea, please consider submitting an abstract to: http://www.frontiersin.org/Emotion_Science/researchtopics/Mechanisms_underpinning_the_li/2668 before the deadline (31 March 2014)

I am. I think it js very important to understand how to fight with stress and how we can protect people and keep them in a good health. I will be waitng for details. Beata

Interesting and relevant: Physical comorbidities in men with mood and anxiety disorders: a population-based study http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1741-7015-11-110.pdf #openaccess

I am interesting in your research topic. I can join your project.

Dear Dr Andrew, I am working in India as a research fellow. My work is with District Mental Health programme of the State of Madhya Pradesh (central India). I am interested in the topic but would like to get little more information about it. My email ID is [email protected].

Hi Andrew,

I work in perinatal mental health services in the U.K. I want more info about your project please. My email is [email protected]

Hi all, for more information on my research topic, please visit my home page at Frontiers:

http://www.frontiersin.org/Emotion_Science/researchtopics/Mechanisms_underpinning_the_li/2668

Any further queries, let me know.

Cheers for now,

AK

Here is an important paper:

EMOTIONS, MORBIDITY, AND MORTALITY: New Perspectives from Psychoneuroimmunology Annu. Rev. Psychol. 2002. 53:83–107

I would like to know what we have achieved in 12 years! The abstract from this review is as follows:

"Negative emotions can intensify a variety of health threats. We provide a broad framework relating negative emotions to a range of diseases whose onset and course may be influenced by the immune system; inflammation has been linked to a spectrum of conditions associated with aging, including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, frailty and functional decline, and periodontal disease. Production of proinflammatory cytokines that influence these and other conditions can be directly stimulated by negative emotions and stressful experiences. Additionally, negative emotions also contribute to prolonged infection and delayed wound healing, processes that fuel sustained proinflammatory cytokine production. Accordingly, we argue that distress-related immune dysregulation may be one core mechanism behind a large and diverse set of health risks associated with negative emotions. Resources such as close personal relationships that diminish negative emotions enhance health in part through their positive impact on immune and endocrine regulation."

Thank you fr these interesting posts. My field is physical symptoms which have no medical explanation. I have been researching and delivering an approach called The BodyMind approach to peopl e with symtoms such as IBS; ME; finromyalgia; headaches; palpiations etc for many years now. Their new persepctive on how the body and mind interact through our programme of exeriential practices based on mindfulness, group analysis and dance movement psychotherapy demonstrates they can live well with their symptoms. Our feelings affect our physical being and our hysical being affects our feelings! Apologes for any spelling errors but the font is the smallest possble with no way t change it!

Hi all, just a reminder to get your abstracts in for this research topic by the deadline. These need to be submitted through Frontiers at: http://www.frontiersin.org/emotion_science/researchtopics/mechanisms_underpinning_the_li/2668

Deadline for abstract submission: 31 Mar 2014

Deadline for full article submission: 30 Sep 2014

I am currently reading: The relationship of autonomic imbalance, heart rate variability and cardiovascular disease risk factors

Published in: International Journal of Cardiology 141 (2010) 122–131

Highly recommended!

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Abstract:

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. The understanding of the risk factors for CVD may yield important insights into the prevention, etiology, course, and treatment of this major public health concern. Autonomic imbalance, characterized by a hyperactive sympathetic system and a hypoactive parasympathetic system, is associated with various pathological conditions. Over time, excessive energy demands on the system can lead to premature aging and diseases. Therefore, autonomic imbalance may be a final common pathway to increased morbidity and mortality from a host of conditions and diseases, including cardiovascular disease. Heart rate variability (HRV) may be used to assess autonomic imbalances, diseases and mortality. Parasympathetic activity and HRV have been associated with a wide range of conditions including CVD. Here we review the evidence linking HRV to established and emerging modifiable and non-modifiable CVD risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, family history and work stress. Substantial evidence exists to support the notion that decreased HRV precedes the development of a number of risk factors and that lowering risk profiles is associated with increased HRV. We close with a suggestion that a model of autonomic imbalance may provide a unifying framework within which to investigate the impact of risk factors, including psychosocial factors and work stress, on cardiovascular disease.

You may also be interested in a review paper we published on this topic last year titled:

The relationship between mental and physical health: Insights from the study of heart rate variability

Published in: International Journal of Psychophysiology 89 (2013) 288–296

Abstract:

Here we review our recent body of work on the impact of mood and comorbid anxiety disorders, alcohol dependence, and their treatments on heart rate variability (HRV), a psychophysiological marker of mental and physical wellbeing. We have shown that otherwise healthy, unmedicated patients with these disorders display reduced resting-state HRV, and that pharmacological treatments do not ameliorate these reductions. Other studies highlight that tricyclic medications and the serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors in particular may have adverse cardiovascular consequences. Reduced HRV has important functional signifi- cance for motivation to engage social situations, social approach behaviours, self-regulation and psychologi- cal flexibility in the face of stressors. Over the longer-term, reduced HRV leads to immune dysfunction and inflammation, cardiovascular disease and mortality, attributable to the downstream effects of a poorly func- tioning cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex. We place our research in the context of the broader literature base and propose a working model for the effects of mood disorders, comorbid conditions, and their treat- ments to help guide future research activities. Further research is urgently needed on the long-term effects of autonomic dysregulation in otherwise healthy psychiatric patients, and appropriate interventions to halt the progression of a host of conditions associated with morbidity and mortality.

Dear Dr. Andrew,

I'm Irina G. Malkina-Pykh, psychologist, Professor, Dr. Sci. in biophysics, is a leading researcher in the ‘Human Ecology’ Department of the Research Center for Interdisciplinary Environmental Cooperation of Russian Academy of Sciences (INENCO RAS), Saint- Petersburg, Russia. I'm the author of the theory and method of rhythmic movement therapy (RMT) – treatment approach that integrates the methods of Body-oriented psychotherapy, Dance movement psychotherapy and rhythmic gymnastics (aerobics). RMT is one of the body-mind approaches to treatment with very good results in obesity, alexithymia and subjective well-being. I'm very interested in the topic and will send you the title of my contribution in the nearest future.

I am interesting in your research topic. I can join your project.

I am interested in contributing to a research topic on the link between mental and physical health. I understand the research topic is tentatively titled "Mechanisms linking Emotion, Physical Health & Longevity". I will adhere to the deadline. I need your emai.

Hi Rose, thanks for your interest. Our homepage is live at:

http://www.frontiersin.org/emotion_science/researchtopics/mechanisms_underpinning_the_li/2668

and I can be reached at:

andrew DOT kemp AT sydney DOT edu DOT au

Hi,

Iam professor at the ULB and actually work in these field. Do you need other researchers for your proposal? If So, I will be very interested to join you.

best

carole

Fantani, absolutely! The more the merrier (and the better the research topic)!

Yes, I am interested. Send me the protocol to [email protected]. Thanks

Caleb, thank you for your interest. Please visit: http://www.frontiersin.org/emotion_science/researchtopics/mechanisms_underpinning_the_li/2668 for protocol.

We are interesting in your research topic.

Best reagards

I would love to know the sorts of papers people are reading around this topic. Let me know.

I am currently reading:

Increased heart rate variability and executive performance after aerobic training in the elderly. Eur J Appl Physiol (2010) 109:617–624

Abstract This study examined the effects of two short physical training programs on various parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) and on executive performance in older people. Twenty-four sedentary men and women aged 65–78 years were randomly assigned to an aerobic exercise program or a stretching program three times a week for 12 weeks. Resting HRV was measured in time and frequency domains in each participant before and after the 12-week programs. Executive performance was measured with the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST). Significant group–session interactions emerged for the standard devi- ation of normal beat-to-beat (R–R) intervals, the root- mean-square of successive R–R, and high frequency power. Only the aerobic training group increased vagal- mediated HRV parameters. Moreover, only the participants in the aerobic training group improved their performance on the WCST. These results highlight the role of aerobic exercise as an important cardiac and brain protective factor, and suggest a direct link between exercise, HRV, and cognition in the aged population.

We work with Mind-Body Practice -- Tai Chi and Qigong. Between 1992 and 2008 (as I recall) there were 77 RCTs on Tai Chi and Qigong that fit the parameters of our review. 27 of those trials explored outcomes associated with the psycho-emotional area including stress, anxiety and depression and in all cases Tai Chi and Qigong were found to be safe and effective with no negative effects.

Reference:

A Comprehensive Review of the Health Benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi

(American Journal of Health Promotion)

Is that useful? How can we support you?

Dr Jahnke -- Roger

Many thanks Roger for your input. Would you have any information on the underlying psychobiological mechanisms for improvements in mental health associated with these practices? Also, do these health benefits differ from other forms of regular exercise? Is there any specificity of these effects to these practices? Have any studies explored these issues that you are aware of?

Hi Andrew,

I am working with colleagues from our Ministry of Tourism, Parks and Recration with a research program addressing nature-based interventions and mental health...we have a forthcoming paper, and I would be pleased to submit to your upcoming collection. Let me know if this would be of interest.

Thanks,

Sonya

Sonya, thanks for getting in touch. This certainly sounds interest and relevant. Please could you submit an abstract here to provide me with further information:

http://www.frontiersin.org/Emotion_Science/researchtopics/Mechanisms_underpinning_the_li/2668

Dear Andrew, I am an Professor in medical college teaches one of the basic premedical subject to all students of medical and paramedical courses. I am very much interested to participate in this project. Please guide and suggest how we will proceed. How this research will be beneficial?

Yes. I am much interested. I am a Neuro-Psychiatry Physiotherapist. I do research in mental health, neurology and physiotherapy. I will like you to send me the draft protocol for understanding of your focus and for possible contribution. Send to [email protected]. Thanks.

Yes, I am interested; contact me through [email protected]

I am interested in working on relation between relation on some component such as self efficacy, spiritual therapy and spirituality, critical thinking, meaning in life, hope in life and quality in life in students of college, elders and menopausal women. i would like to have a cooperative with you. my email address is: [email protected]

Final call 4 abstracts on link bw emotion and physical health | Research Topics @FrontPsychol http://shar.es/B7ygx

All, FYI the deadline for abstracts has been extended to: 30 Apr 2014

I am interested. My doctoral dissertation was Investigation of health and social aspects of lefthandedness. I really believe that emotions strongly affect physical health. I like to contribute in this field. Please contact me [email protected]

Andrew:

I would look for contributors that have done qualitative research on PWB and its relationship with physical well-being. Psychological well-being is gaining "mega" interest in the medical sciences, finally! A mental-health professional really needs to be with the PCP for the initial visits. The Docs often do not pick up on signs of substance abuse, clinical depression, eating disorders, or the possibility that hypertensive patients and diabetics, etc. Need a lifestyle change as much, if not more than a script. Good Luck.

Marilyn

See The Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-Being.

If you have seen my list of causes before please forgive me but if not then here are a few often overlooked issues.... Studies have shown that up to 40% of mental health patients have physical issues that are not only ignored but are exasperated by their treatment.

Known indirect risks

Childhood trauma, grief and loss, accident, abuse both physical and sexual, hormonal turmoil of adolescence, relationship distress, overwhelm, depression, loss of meaning, substance abuse, addictions, gambling, dramatic change, seasonal, childbirth, financial worries, over work or shift work, jet lag, loss of job/home/parents, illness, cancer, chronic pain, dental infection, natural disaster, war, post traumatic shock, hormone imbalance, thyroid imbalance, menopause, loneliness, self neglect, dementia.

Even so called positive events such as dramatic life changes, infatuation, sudden large financial gain, spiritual emergence, sudden fame, near death experiences and too much sunshine can have a causal component to a change in mental health.

Known direct causes

Rabies, Toxoplasmosis (very common and caught from cat excrement), Lymes disease, Pyroluria, Porphyria, parasites, syphilis, heavy metal exposure (mercury, copper, lead and others). Head injury, fetal alcohol syndrome, autisms, epilepsy and vaccine damage, high fever, dehydration, sleep deprivation, nutritional and mineral deficiency. Side/direct effects from illegal stimulants, mental health and other medical drugs (an example is Tamiflu induced suicide in Japanese adolescents). Incorrect use of nicotine patches, post-operative psychosis, post natal distress, toxic poisoning, direct food allergies, gastrointestinal infections, extreme physical hyperthermia or heat. Blood sugar imbalance, over or under thyroid, faulty methylation and B vitamin deficiency, essential fats deficiencies, histamine excess, serotonin deficiency, adrenal imbalance, acetylcholine imbalance, bladder infection, metallothionein deficiency....

Most often a combination such as high copper, low histamine in depression or high mercury, low zinc and Pyroluria (a genetic condition which robs the body of zinc and B6). Add in some life stress and infection and the last straw breaks the camel into an altered state of consciousness.

Dear Colleagues

Thank you for these precious questions and answers.

I am working on this subject since 30 y.

In fact, depression, as a neuro-biochemical illness with multisystemic consequences is probably the univoque answer.

Psychiatric conceptions on depression, as many others, are devoid of any scientific basis and purely dogmatic.

Positive diagnosis is very variable, according to scales an periods. Negative diagnosis has never been considered.

Psychic features are not a cause but one of many consequences, without any direct relation with bodily manifestations which are multiples, variables, frequently with   opposite faetures (diarrhoea and constipation f.i.).

There are many publications since 100 y. but devoid of any durable impact.

They are detailed in my book in french "La dépression et son traitement : aspects méconnus" L'Harmattan Paris 2011. I join its abstract in English available and my site, otherwise in french,  http://bmaroy.free.fr

Manuscripts wanted! The research topic on link bw emotion, health & longevity @FrontiersIn now spans multiple journals inc Frontiers in Psychology (Emotion Science), Frontiers in Psychiatry (Affective Disorders and Psychosomatic Research, Public Mental Health), and Frontiers in Public Health (Epidemiology, Public Mental Health). Deadline for Abstract is 15 April 2015 and for Manuscript is 15 October 2015.