Can emotional stress cause autoimmune disease?

While emotional stress doesn’t directly cause autoimmune diseases, it can influence immune responses, potentially contributing to the development or worsening of autoimmune conditions.

Research suggests that stress affects the immune system by altering hormone levels like catecholamines and glucocorticoids. This immune disruption, observed in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, might intensify symptoms or delay recovery.

An extensive analysisTrusted Source of over 100,000 individuals diagnosed with stress-related disorders in Sweden revealed a notable increase in the risk of developing autoimmune diseases compared to both the general population and the subjects’ own siblings.