Mind-Body Connection: Psychoneuroimmunology

At Goshen Center for Cancer Care, we understand that a patient’s psychological and spiritual conditions can influence moods, general attitudes and one’s outlook on life, and ultimately impact the body’s ability to heal. Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) examines how a patient’s mental and emotional states interact with the nervous, endocrine and immune systems, and how that interaction affects the body. Through our Mind-Body Connections Program, we teach our patients how to better cope with the rigors of diagnosis and treatment and offer them effective methods to direct all their energies toward healing.

PNI goals include:

• Develop coping skills
• Restore control (reduce anxiety)
• Improve sleep
• Make lifestyle changes that enhance therapy and reduce risk of recurrence
• Improve immune function

Strategies to achieve these goals may include:

• Cognitive restructuring
• Support groups
• Guided imagery
• Laughter therapy