Psychological stress and the common cold

  • Jack M. Gwaltney
  • , Frederick G. Hayden
  • , Alexander C. Chester
  • , Sheldon Cohen
  • , David A.j. Tyrrell
  • , Andrew P. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalLetterpeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

To the Editor: The conclusion of Cohen et al. (Aug. 29 issue)1 that stress increases infection rates after an experimental rhinovirus challenge cannot be accepted on the basis of the results presented. Persons with low or absent titers (≥2) of serum neutralizing antibody almost always become infected after an intranasal rhinovirus challenge. In our trials over the past 13 years, 321 of 343 susceptible (i.e., with titers ≥2) control subjects (94 percent) became infected after a challenge.2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 In the study of Cohen et al., infection rates in the antibody-free subjects with high and low scores on the psychological-stress index were.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)644-646
Number of pages3
JournalNew England Journal of Medicine
Volume326
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Feb 1992
Externally publishedYes

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