Chronic stress can significantly diminish the ability of the central nervous system (CNS) to regulate both neurological and systemic stress responses required to maintain normal body homeostasis. Clinical reports indicate that mood disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety) and other neuropsychiatric symptoms are commonly present in patients with chronic systemic diseases, frequently contributing to impaired physical recovery and more intricate treatment regimens. The complex relationship between psychiatric and systemic illnesses also appears bidirectional as underlying brain-body crosstalk processes may involve reciprocal communication between the CNS and other major body systems. However, despite the abundance of empirical evidence and well-established link between different physical disease states and deterioration in mental health, the precise intrinsic physiological and biochemical mechanisms are still poorly understood. Thus, evidence-based interdisciplinary preclinical and clinical research/studies are needed to aid the development of more effective treatment, diagnostic, and prevention strategies for the management of not only mood disorders but also mental health comorbidities associated with different systemic illnesses.
The goal of this Research Topic is to broaden the scientific literature and discussion on brain-body crosstalk focusing on pathophysiological processes underlying stress-induced interruption of the brain’s ability to communicate with and regulate the function of peripheral organ systems. Through this collection, leading preclinical and clinical experts will disseminate new scientific information and knowledge with a goal of promoting discovery and implementation of improved treatments for stress-related psychiatric illnesses as well as mental health aspects of different systemic diseases.
For this Research Topic, we welcome Original Research articles, Reviews, Opinion, and General Commentaries – themes of particular interest include:
• Preclinical and clinical evidence supporting comorbidity between neuropsychiatric symptoms/ mental illness and chronic systemic diseases including (but not limited to):
o Neurological disorders
- e.g., chronic pain conditions, substance use disorders and alcoholism, neurodegenerative disorders, stroke, etc.
o Cardiovascular disease
o Gastrointestinal disorders
o Obesity and metabolic disorders
o Kidney disease/disorders
• Physiological and biochemical mechanisms/processes underlying brain-body crosstalk –examples include (but not limited to):
o Stress-induced activation of neuroendocrine and immune systems
o Disease state and systemic activation of innate peripheral immuno-inflammatory defense responses – e.g., development of systemic low-grade/subclinical inflammation
o Effects of psychological and/or physical stressors on CNS and peripheral organ systems
o Communication between the gut microbiota/microbiome and the brain – e.g., influence of the microbiome on stress responses and brain activity
o Effects of circulating metabolic regulators on CNS and brain function
o Effects of stress on renal function, maintenance of homeostasis, and blood-brain barrier integrity
• Pathological states and potential risk factors for the development of chronic psychological dysfunction and comorbid psychiatric illnesses – e.g., psychosocial stressors, daily practices, lifestyle choices, etc.
• Novel biochemical targets for the development of more effective treatments and avenues toward improved diagnostic and prevention strategies
Keywords:
chronic stress, comorbid depression/MDD, comorbid anxiety, therapy, physical illness, brain-body crosstalk, mental health and systemic illness, mood disorders comorbidity
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Chronic stress can significantly diminish the ability of the central nervous system (CNS) to regulate both neurological and systemic stress responses required to maintain normal body homeostasis. Clinical reports indicate that mood disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety) and other neuropsychiatric symptoms are commonly present in patients with chronic systemic diseases, frequently contributing to impaired physical recovery and more intricate treatment regimens. The complex relationship between psychiatric and systemic illnesses also appears bidirectional as underlying brain-body crosstalk processes may involve reciprocal communication between the CNS and other major body systems. However, despite the abundance of empirical evidence and well-established link between different physical disease states and deterioration in mental health, the precise intrinsic physiological and biochemical mechanisms are still poorly understood. Thus, evidence-based interdisciplinary preclinical and clinical research/studies are needed to aid the development of more effective treatment, diagnostic, and prevention strategies for the management of not only mood disorders but also mental health comorbidities associated with different systemic illnesses.
The goal of this Research Topic is to broaden the scientific literature and discussion on brain-body crosstalk focusing on pathophysiological processes underlying stress-induced interruption of the brain’s ability to communicate with and regulate the function of peripheral organ systems. Through this collection, leading preclinical and clinical experts will disseminate new scientific information and knowledge with a goal of promoting discovery and implementation of improved treatments for stress-related psychiatric illnesses as well as mental health aspects of different systemic diseases.
For this Research Topic, we welcome Original Research articles, Reviews, Opinion, and General Commentaries – themes of particular interest include:
• Preclinical and clinical evidence supporting comorbidity between neuropsychiatric symptoms/ mental illness and chronic systemic diseases including (but not limited to):
o Neurological disorders
- e.g., chronic pain conditions, substance use disorders and alcoholism, neurodegenerative disorders, stroke, etc.
o Cardiovascular disease
o Gastrointestinal disorders
o Obesity and metabolic disorders
o Kidney disease/disorders
• Physiological and biochemical mechanisms/processes underlying brain-body crosstalk –examples include (but not limited to):
o Stress-induced activation of neuroendocrine and immune systems
o Disease state and systemic activation of innate peripheral immuno-inflammatory defense responses – e.g., development of systemic low-grade/subclinical inflammation
o Effects of psychological and/or physical stressors on CNS and peripheral organ systems
o Communication between the gut microbiota/microbiome and the brain – e.g., influence of the microbiome on stress responses and brain activity
o Effects of circulating metabolic regulators on CNS and brain function
o Effects of stress on renal function, maintenance of homeostasis, and blood-brain barrier integrity
• Pathological states and potential risk factors for the development of chronic psychological dysfunction and comorbid psychiatric illnesses – e.g., psychosocial stressors, daily practices, lifestyle choices, etc.
• Novel biochemical targets for the development of more effective treatments and avenues toward improved diagnostic and prevention strategies
Keywords:
chronic stress, comorbid depression/MDD, comorbid anxiety, therapy, physical illness, brain-body crosstalk, mental health and systemic illness, mood disorders comorbidity
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.