Healing Brain Seminar: March 1983

PSYCHOIMMUNOLOGY

Friday, March 11, 1983 Morning Session

Psychoimmunology – The Founding of a Field
George F. Solomon, M.D.

The Basics of the Immune System
David Collier, M.D.

Neurochemical Control of the Immune System
Alfred Amkraut, M.D.

Afternoon Session

The Defective Immune System
David Collier, M.D.

Conditioning the Immune System
Craig Van Dyke

Emotions, Stress and Immunity:
Immunological Abnormalities in Physical and Mental Diseases
George F. Solomon, M.D.

THE HEALING BRAIN

Saturday March 12, 1983 Morning Session

The Role of the Brain in Health: Introduction to the Symposium
Robert Ornstein, M.D.

The Rise of the Brain
Arnold Scheibel, M.D.

Brain Growth in Responses to Experience: UPDATE
Marian C. Diamond, Ph.D.

Afternoon Session

Emotions, Expression, and Health
Paul Ekman, Ph.D.

Retraining Type As to Avoid Heart Attacks
Virginia Price, Ph.D.

The Defective Immune System
David Collier, M.D.

Conditioning the Immune System
Craig Van Dyke

Emotions, Stress and Immunity: Immunological Abnormalities in Physical and Mental Diseases
George F. Solomon, M.D.

NEW KNOWLEDGE, UPDATES

Sunday, March 13,1983 Morning Session

Human Dialogue and the Healing Process
James J. Lynch, Ph.D.

People Need People: Social Networks and Health-UPDATE
Meredith Minkler, Dr. P.M.

Mind or Body? Mental Disorders and Brain Diseases
Robert Taylor, M.D.

Afternoon Session

The Placebo Effect: UPDATE
David S. Sobel, M.D., M.P.H.

Endorphins and Endogeneous Opiates: UPDATE
Jon D. Levine, M.D.

The Divided Cortex and Emotions: UPDATE
Robert Ornstein, Ph.D.

Symposium Summary and Comments-Robert Ornstein, Ph.D., David Sobel, M.D.

A Two-day Workshop in Transactional Psychophysiology with James J. Lynch, Ph.D. and Sue A. Thomas, R.N., Ph.D.

A New Non-drug Approach to the Management of Hypertension

March 14-15 and March 26-27

Human Dialogue and the Healing Process

The past few years have witnessed remarkable growth in medical evidence supporting the idea that human dialogue is crucial to our health and well being. With the aid of recent technological breakthroughs, research has demonstrated that human dialogue can significantly influence the functioning of blood pressure, heart rate and blood flow in ways that could not previously be fully appreciated. This workshop is an integrated attempt to examine the links between communication and blood pressure, and to demonstrate the applicability of this information for the treatment of hypertension.

Hypertension is a pervasive problem within our modern society, and its diagnosis and treatment have classically focused on organic causes and therapies. At the same time it is common knowledge that psychosocial stress can play a large part in generating and maintaining states of hypertension. Consequently behavioral interventions, such as biofeedback, meditation, yoga and relaxation have been recently introduced, and have demonstrated some success in treating high blood pressure. Because they have not directly addressed the interpersonal aspects of blood pressure regulation, however, these techniques have varied widely in their therapeutic effectiveness.

We have developed an entirely new and successful approach to hypertension based on our studies of the links between human communication and changes in blood pressure. This approach is called Transactional Psychophysiology (TP). Our studies have revealed that even the most routine conversations can significantly change blood pressure, and that hypertensive individuals are especially sensitive to dialogue. Recognition of the fact that physiological responsiveness is an inherent part of human communication led us to develop a new therapeutic approach to help restore our bodies to healthy functioning. This approach focuses on the links between human dialogue and changes in blood pressure. Patients who quite literally had previously “talked” their way into hypertension have been shown how to use human dialogue in a way that can also lower their blood pressure.

This workshop has been designed to provide participants with the essential concepts for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in the context of our new treatment approach. Participants will obtain a broader understanding of the psychophysiologic mechanisms of hypertension, and a grounding in the new tools for treating this disorder. Participants also will be given an opportunity to gain hands-on experience using latest computer technology and diagnostic techniques.

Workshop Outline:

• Pathophysiology and dynamics of essential hypertension and its pharmacological management
• Human Communication and Blood Pressure. An in-depth examination of our current studies linking communication to major changes in the cardio-vascular system
• Introduction to Transactional Psychophysiology (TP) Therapy
• The psychophysiological and psychodynamics of TP therapy
• Psychophysiological assessment and evaluation of a person presenting with hypertension
• Case presentations of the treatment approach with hypertensive patients
• Comparison of Transactional Psychophysiology with other therapies (pharmacological psychotherapy, biofeedback, yoga, meditation)
• Introductory practice sessions throughout workshop for small groups in the use of TP therapy

Faculty

Alfred Amkraut, Ph.D., author of several papers on regulatory mechanisms of the immune system, especially neurotransmitters and neuroendocrines.

David Collier, M.D., is with the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, University of California, San Francisco.

Marian C. Diamond, Ph.D., Professor of Anatomy, University of California, Berkeley. Her research shows how the structure of the nervous system changes with experience.

Paul Ekman, Ph.D., Professor, University of California, San Francisco; author of Emotions in the Human Face and many papers on the facial expression of emotion.

Jon D. Levlne, M.D., Ph.D., acting Chief, Pain Research Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco. His research has been on the role of endorphins in placebo analgesia.

James J. Lynch, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, University of Maryland; author of The Broken Heart: The Medical Consequences of Loneliness.

Meredith Minkler, Assoc. Professor, Health Education, University of California, Berkeley; author of numerous papers on supportive ties and health.

Robert Ornstein, Professor in Human Biology, Stanford University; author of The Psychology of Consciousness.

Virginia Price, Ph.D. is lead therapist at the Recurrent Coronary Prevention Project, Mt. Zion Hospital; author of Type A Behavior Pattern (A Model for Research and Practice).

Arnold Scheibel, M.D., Professor, Departments of Anatomy and Psychiatry, UCLA; author of hundreds of papers on the cellular structure of the brain, and the problems of mind in the brain.

David S. Sobel, M.D., M.P.H., Chief of Preventive Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, San Jose; editor of Ways of Health.

George F. Solomon, M.D., Clinical Professor and Vice Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco and Chief of Psychiatry, Valley Medical Center, Fresno; author of numerous papers on the immune system and emotions, stress and immunity.

Sue A. Thomas, R.N., Ph.D., Clinical Director, Psychophysiology Clinic and Assoc. Professor, School of Nursing, University of Maryland; author of numerous papers on hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Robert Taylor, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor, Division of Family Community and Preventive Medicine, Stanford University; author of Mind or Body: Distinguishing Psychiatric from Organic Disorders.

Craig Van Dyke, M.D., Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco; co-editor of Emotions, Health and Illness.