Effects of Brief Mood-Improving Interventions on Immunity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Ayling, Kieran; Sunger, Kanchan; Vedhara, Kavita

Abstract

Objectives: Positive mood has been associated with enhanced immune function. Interventions that improve mood could, therefore, provide a mechanism for optimising immune related health outcomes. Brief interventions that improve mood, also known as mood inductions, potentially offer a pragmatic approach to enhancing immune function for finite periods where this would be beneficial to health (e.g., in advance of vaccination or surgery). This review sought to systematically examine the evidence regarding the effects of brief, single-session positive mood interventions on immunity.

Methods: Systematic searches of electronic databases were performed from earliest records to 25th July 2018. We identified 42 interventions suitable for inclusion, six of which were tested in multiple sub-populations. Random effects meta-analyses were performed for pre-post experimental group immune outcomes measured in at least 5 intervention studies.

Results: While interventions were heterogeneous, 81% resulted in a statistically significant change in at least one immune parameter following the positive mood intervention for one or more of the sub-populations examined. However, studies were, in general, of low-to-moderate quality with small sample sizes (median n=32) and did not examine the persistence, or clinical relevance of the immune changes observed. Random effects meta-analyses showed a significant medium-sized effect of interventions on increasing secretory IgA concentration (g=0.65), a small but statistically significant effect for increased IL-6 production (g=0.12) and non-significant effects on NK cell activity (g=0.15).

Conclusions: The current literature provides modest evidence that improvements in mood resulting from brief interventions can influence some immune parameters in ways indicative of enhanced immune function. However, there is a need for higher quality research in this area that focuses on clinically relevant immune outcomes and mechanisms.

Citation

Ayling, K., Sunger, K., & Vedhara, K. (2020). Effects of Brief Mood-Improving Interventions on Immunity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Psychosomatic Medicine, 82(1), 10–28. https://doi.org/10.1097/psy.0000000000000760

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 23, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Oct 11, 2019
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Deposit Date: Aug 30, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 12, 2020
• Journal: Psychosomatic Medicine
• Print ISSN: 0033-3174
• Electronic ISSN: 1534-7796
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 82
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 10–28
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/psy.0000000000000760
• Keywords: Applied Psychology; Psychiatry and Mental health
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2522652
• Publisher URL: https://journals.lww.com/psychosomaticmedicine/Abstract/publishahead/Effects_of_Brief_Mood_Improving_Interventions_on.98595.aspx
• Related Public URLs: https://insights.ovid.com/crossref?an=00006842-900000000-98595
• Contract Date: Aug 30, 2019