The connection between psychological and physiological mechanisms forms the basis behind the concept of a mind body connection and is reflected by the current bio-psychosocial model of health and healthcare. This model recognises the interconnected biological, psychological, and sociological spectrums as systems of the body, and is focused on health rather than disease, and recognises that psychosocial factors (e.g. beliefs, relationships, stress) impact on recovery, progression and recuperation from illness and disease. It is considered by the researcher that within this modelling of health, a larger set of distinctly human attributes and mechanisms exist, that provide a capacity and mechanism for spirituality. Such attributes include finding meaning, purpose in life, self awareness, idealism and transcendence or liberation from suffering and mechanisms include psycho-neuroimmunology and placebo.
Psychoneuroimmunology is the term given to study of the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems of the human body. This is achieved through the interconnectivity of the immune system and brain via immunological and neurological and endocrinological routes. The brain and the immune system are the two major adaptive systems of the body, and communicate via the Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) and the sympathetic nervous system. The HPA axis maintains homeostasis by controlling cortisol levels in the body. The stress response causes an increase in cortisol production, and if this is not regulated adverse affects include raised blood pressure, muscle weakness, high blood lipid levels, depression, and inflammation. Spirituality is thought to mediate against this stress response, and therefore act to reduce the physiological effects to promote immunity and healing. Psychoneuroimmunology is a mechanism for explaining the placebo response.
The placebo response is associated with positive and negative health outcomes through the mind body connection, and there are various hypothetical approaches which try to explain this phenomenon. A new definition of placebo includes this aspect of meaning as being important for a positive healing response. This new definition as a “therapeutic meaning response” is supported by a review of empirical evidence that emphasizes the importance of these effects for developing a science of healing. According to the positive placebo response hypothesis, positive response is most likely to occur when meaning of the illness is altered in a positive direction. The patient feels a sense of control and mastery and care and concern from others, which supports and a positive outlook. Complementary to this response model is the conditioning theory, which may explain how the past experiences of the patient affect the meaning attached to present events.
Aspects of spirituality such as hope, meaning, reassurance and encouragement have been shown to encourage healing in the body through this meaning response model, and studies show that by carrying out various specific actions such as speaking positively about treatments, provide reassurance, develop trust, support relationships, respect uniqueness, explore values, and create ceremony, they can facilitate an inner mind body healing response.