Mood and experimentally-induced respiratory virus infections and illnesses

Abstract

The research described in this paper examined the relationship between mood and experimentally-induced upper respiratory virus infections and illnesses. The first aim was to determine whether pre-challenge mood was related to susceptibility to infection and illness. There was no evidence of an association in any of the trials. A second aim of the research was to examine the nature of the mood changes induced by the different viruses. Subjects with influenza showed a general increase in negative affect. Those who developed a cold following challenge with a coronavirus reported a drop in arousal but little change in other aspects of mood. Colds following challenge with rhinoviruses and respiratory syncytial viruses produced little change in mood. There was little evidence of sub-clinical infections changing mood. However, mood changes were also reported after the symptoms of a coronavirus cold had gone. These results demonstrate selective effects of upper respiratory viruses on mood and show that the changes are not confined to times when the primary symptoms are present. This agrees with the pattern obtained in studies of performance change.