Humor.

Humor has not been taken as seriously as it should be. Humor has many positive effects in the daily lives of patients and clinicians need to take advantage of these. Many indices of stress are attenuated and this serves to improve the therapeutic alliance. Freudian, rational emotive therapy, and kleinian views are presented, as well as examples of how to use playful therapy. In addition, advice on how to develop humor is given.

The role of nutrient-based epigenetic changes in buffering against stress, aging, and Alzheimer's disease.

Converging evidence identifies stress-related disorders as putative risk factors for Alzheimer Disease (AD). This article reviews evidence on the complex interplay of stress, aging, and genes-epigenetics interactions. The recent classification of AD into preclinical, mild cognitive impairment, and AD offers a window for intervention to prevent, delay, or modify the course of AD. Evidence in support of the cognitive effects of epigenetics-diet, and nutraceuticals is reviewed. A proactive epigenetics diet and nutraceuticals program holds promise as potential buffer against the negative impact of aging and stress responses on cognition, and can optimize vascular, metabolic, and brain health in the community.

The importance of glia in dealing with stress.

Glia are starting to be accepted as the equal of neurons. Their impact on intelligence, environmental enrichment, and cerebral dominance forms the basis for understanding the role of glia in stress. Along with neurons, astrocytes, microglia, NG2 cells, and oligodendrocytes all contribute. Glia can even be protective against drug abuse. Glial effects on depression, mood disorders and schizophrenia are reviewed.

Dermatological manifestations of stress in normal and psychiatric populations.

This article explores the way stress affects the skin, both at the molecular level, where the skin has an intricate connection to the neurocutaneous and immune systems, and at the clinical level. The concept of psychodermatology is reviewed with regard to the way skin reacts to stress, how stress is a trigger for several common skin diseases, and how neuropsychiatric disorders may have skin manifestations. The article is directed at making the dermatologist, the psychiatrist, the psychologist, and the primary physician familiar with the brain-skin mechanisms involved in stress and the resultant clinical expressions on the skin.

The role of glia in stress: polyamines and brain disorders.

This review focuses on the roles of glia and polyamines (PAs) in brain function and dysfunction, highlighting how PAs are one of the principal differences between glia and neurons. The novel role of PAs, such as putrescine, spermidine, and spermine and their precursors and derivatives, is discussed. However, PAs have not yet been a focus of much glial research. They affect many neuronal and glial receptors, channels, and transporters. They are therefore key elements in the development of many diseases and syndromes, thus forming the rationale for PA-focused and glia-focused therapy for these conditions.