Commentary: What does immunology have to do with brain development and psychopathology? - A commentary on O'Connor et al. (2014)

Abstract

In the past, we have typically regarded the 'immune system' as a complex set of cellular and molecular processes that protect us against pathogens, from viruses to parasitic worms. It is now clear that the cellular and molecular processes that make up our 'immune system' are also crucial to normal brain development and play a role in the pathoaetiology of many mental and physical disorders. In their Annual Research Review, O'Connor, Moynihan and Caserta (2014) provide a useful introduction to this emerging area of science that is highly relevant to our field and is a natural outgrowth of their earlier and ongoing work in psychoneuroimmunology. However, their review goes well beyond these seminal findings. While work in developmental psychoneuroimmunology engenders a good deal of excitement among academic researchers, the 'promise' of the field clearly remains greater than the 'deliverables', in terms of any direct effect on patient care. This commentary looks at the implication of these findings for clinical practice and where future research efforts should be expended. © 2014 The Author. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. © 2014 Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.