Psychosomatic Medicine 17:124-127 (1955)
© 1955 American Psychosomatic Society

"Critical Period" for Inhibition of Inflammation by a Primarily Neurogenic Stress-Situation

¹ The Institute of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada

Inflammation, produced by means of the "granuloma-pouch" technique, permits the objective volumetric assessment of exudation under strictly standardized conditions. By transient, forcible immobilization, a primarily neurogenic stress-situation can be induced which is highly effective in suppressing this type of inflammation.

With these techniques it has been shown that an inflammatory focus induced by a single application of an irritant (croton oil) is most effectively inhibited by systemic stress applied during the "critical period," which is 3 to 5 days after the infliction of the topical injury.

The clinical implications of these findings are discussed in relation to psychosomatic factors, which can affect the progress of inflammatory disease.