Neurobiological Principles: Psycho-Neuro-Immuno-Endocrinology

Mental disorders have a complex pathophysiology that remains only partially understood. In addition to changes in neurotransmitter systems and receptors - the effector systems that act on downstream signal transduction processes - there is increasing evidence that immunological mechanisms play an important role in the pathophysiology of mental disorders. In recent decades, psycho-neuroimmuno- endocrinology, which is concerned with the relationships between mental functions, psychiatric disorders, the immune system, and endocrine mechanisms, has become an important topic in psychiatry. Meanwhile, initial attempts have been made to make use of such psycho-neuro-immunological mechanisms as novel treatment strategies. © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.