Early Life Stress and the Immune System

An article in the February 4, 2009 edition of HealthDay News examines this issue. The article reviews a study published online Feb. 2, 2009 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Early Edition. The researchers studied "...the effect of two different types of adverse childhood experiences on infection by herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1. Adolescents included an early adversity group who had experienced deprivation of early caregiving prior to adoption (41 subjects), a current adversity group who had experienced sustained physical abuse and were still residing with their families (34 subjects), and a demographically similar control cohort (80 subjects). The immune response to HSV infection was quantified by measuring HSV antibody levels in the saliva." The results of the study were disturbing. "Both groups of stressed adolescents had significantly higher levels of HSV antibody compared with control subjects...these levels remained similar across four school and home days, suggesting this difference was sustained. These differences remained significant even after accounting for possible explanatory factors, which included age, gender, race, country of origin, family income and current level of stress." This study strongly suggests that early life stress can indeed weaken a child's immune system later in life.

The Bottom Line: The results of this study strongly suggest that early life stressors can weaken a child's immune system.

Source:: This article is reprinted with permission from Dr. Jeff's and Dr. Tanya's Blog

Dr. Jeffrey Speller
Dr. Tanya Korkosz
Psychopharmacology Associates of New England
Dr. Jeff's and Dr. Tanya's Blog

A native of Pennsylvania, Dr. Speller attended undergraduate school at Haverford College in Haverford, Pennsylvania, receiving a B.A. in Philosophy. During his senior year Dr. Speller was a national finalist for the Rhodes Scholarship. He received an M.D. and M.B.A. from Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. He completed his post-graduate medical education and residency training in psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Division, Harvard Medical School. Dr. Speller is certified in adult and adolescent psychiatry and is licensed to practice medicine, psychiatry, and psychopharmacology in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Dr. Speller is a former member of the faculty of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Speller has over twenty years of professional experience. Dr. Speller is the co-founder and co-director of Psychopharmacology Associates of New England and the co-creater and co-author of Dr. Jeff's and Dr. Tanya's Blog.

A native of Massachusetts, Dr. Korkosz attended Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, receiving a B.A. in Physics. She completed the two-year Premedical Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a straight A average (GPA 4.0). She received the M.D. degree from Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts. She completed her post-graduate medical education and training in psychiatry at Cambridge Hospital, Harvard Medical School and Saint Elizabeth's Hospital, National Institutes of Health. Dr. Korkosz is licensed to practice medicine, psychiatry, and psychopharmacology in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Dr. Korkosz is a former member of the faculty of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Korkosz has over twenty years of professional experience. Dr. Korkosz is the co-founder and co-director of Psychopharmacology Associates of New England and the co-creater and co-author of Dr. Jeff's and Dr. Tanya's Blog.

While a person can feel better after a good talk with a friend or relative, for moderate or severe psychiatric symptoms, this relief is only temporary. Being professionally evaluated and treated with appropriate psychiatric medication will often alleviate the psychiatric symptoms quickly and effectively. With more than more than forty years of combined professional experience, Dr. Jeffrey Speller and Dr. Tanya Joanne Korkosz are Harvard-trained physicians and psychiatrists who specialize in the use of psychiatric medication for adolescents (12 to 19) and adults. They are highly trained to evaluate and treat your psychiatric disorder with state-of-the-art psychiatric medication in a way that helps you to feel better quickly. We offer you an opportunity to face your difficulties constructively and confidently; freeing you to enjoy all the good things life has to offer.

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England is an independent psychiatric practice specializing in the use of state-of-the-art psychiatric medications in the treatment of adolescents (12 to 19) and adults who are challenged by attentions issues, depression, anxiety, social phobias, mood instability, and other psychiatric disorders. We are a team of licensed physicians and psychiatrists. Collectively, we have over 40 years of experience working with adolescent and adult patients. We offer comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, medication management, individual medication consultations, and second opinions about current medications regimes.

In addition to psychopharmacological services, we offer BrainSmart life coaching services that instructs individuals on how to manage their day-to-day lives in a way that promotes the healthy long-term functioning of their brain. With BrainSmart coaching individuals can often successfully reduce the doses of their medications, the number of medications prescribed, and the duration of their medication treatment. For parents of adolescent patients we also offer ParentSmart coaching to assist parents in better parenting their adolescent children who have psychiatric issues.

Psychopharmacology Associates of New England is conveniently located at 94 Pleasant Street in Arlington, Massachusetts. We are a self-pay practice that does not accept insurance. To schedule an appointment please call: Dr. Speller or Dr. Korkosz at: (781) 641-0700.

WHAT AGE GROUPS DO YOU TREAT?
Psychopharmacology Associates of New England provides state-of-the-art psychopharmacology services to adolescents (12 to 19) and adults.

ARE YOU ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS?
Yes, Dr. Speller and Dr. Korkosz are both currently accepting new patients.

DO YOU ACCEPT INSURANCE?
We offer the services of practice on a fee-for-service, self-pay basis only. We do not accept insurance including ppo plans.

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT DRS. SPELLER AND KORKOSZ?
For up-to-date information about Drs. Speller's and Dr. Korkosz's thoughts about mental health and mental illness, go to their blog at: http://drjeffanddrtanya.typepad.com/

Office Location:
94 Pleasant Street
Arlington, MA 02476

Phone: (781) 641-0700