A cacophony of cytokines explains the biopsychosocial interaction model of mental and physical disease

Social, psychological and biological factors interact to cause both mental and physical disease. Chronic low grade infl ammation is a risk factor for many conditions including atherosclerosis and its complications, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity and depression. The infl ammatory response is designed to protect against pathogenic micro-organisms but in the process some damage to our own tissues is inevitable. The process is complicated and is orchestrated by cytokines (intercellular messengers). Adaptive physiological responses to the many stresses of everyday life are also orchestrated by cytokines.