Track: Psychiatric Immunology and Physiological Psychology

Psychology 2025

Psychiatric Immunology: Immune System’s Role in Mental Health
    1. The impact of neuroinflammation on disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
    2. The role of pro-inflammatory cytokines and microglial activation in psychiatric disorders.
    3. Immune system dysregulation as a potential biomarker for diagnosing and treating mental health conditions.
    4. Exploring the gut-brain axis: How the microbiome influences immune responses and mental health.
Neuroimmune Interactions in Psychiatric Disorders
    1. The connection between chronic inflammation and the development of psychiatric conditions.
    2. Understanding the role of autoimmune disorders, such as autoimmune encephalitis, in the manifestation of psychiatric symptoms.
    3. Investigating the role of stress-induced immunosuppression and its link to anxiety and mood disorders.
Physiological Psychology: The Mind-Body Connection
    1. Understanding how autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity, such as sympathetic and parasympathetic regulation, impacts emotional regulation and stress responses.
    2. The role of endocrine hormones (e.g., cortisol, adrenaline) in the body's response to psychological stress.
    3. The influence of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and GABA on mood, cognition, and behavior.
Stress, Immunity, and Mental Health
    1. The impact of chronic stress on the immune system and its link to psychiatric disorders.
    2. Exploring the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and its role in stress-related disorders like PTSD and depression.
    3. The effects of acute versus chronic stress on immune function and mental health outcomes.
Innovative Approaches to Treatment
    1. Anti-inflammatory therapies as potential treatments for psychiatric disorders.
    2. Exploring the use of immune-modulating drugs and biologic therapies in treating conditions like schizophrenia and major depressive disorder.
    3. Advances in neurostimulation techniques, such as vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), that target both the immune and nervous systems.
Psychophysiological Assessment Techniques
    1. The use of heart rate variability (HRV), electroencephalography (EEG), and cortisol measurements to assess the physiological basis of psychological states.
    2. Evaluating biomarkers that indicate immune system activity related to psychiatric symptoms.
Clinical and Translational Perspectives
    1. Case studies demonstrating the role of immune responses in the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders.
    2. Translation of research findings into clinical practice, highlighting the potential for personalized medicine in psychiatric care.
    3. Discussion of multidisciplinary approaches involving immunologists, psychiatrists, and psychologists to create comprehensive care plans.
Learning Outcomes:
  1. Understand the role of immune dysregulation and neuroinflammation in the development of psychiatric disorders.
  2. Explore how hormonal changes and autonomic nervous system activity affect mental health.
  3. Gain insight into the bi-directional relationship between the brain and immune system in conditions like depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia.
  4. Learn about emerging immune-modulating treatments and neurostimulation therapies for psychiatric conditions.
  5. Discover how physiological psychology provides a foundation for understanding mind-body interactions in emotional regulation and cognitive processes