opti · Psychoneuroimmunology
Psychological Stress & Infection Risk
Higher stress index = significantly higher rate of infection — Cohen et al., 1991 (N = 394)
Line chart showing infection rate rising with psychological stress index, observed vs adjusted data
70
75
80
85
90
95
Subjects with Infection (%)
3–4
5–6
7–8
9–10
11–12
Psychological Stress Index
Observed
Adjusted
+17 pp increase in risk
Cohen S. et al. (1991), N Engl J Med 325:606–612 · N=394