Skin wounds heal more slowly in people who are suffering from chronic stress, a small but significant study indicates. The finding suggests that stress reduction might speed healing in people who are recovering from accidents or surgery.

Previous studies have already shown that psychological stress can dampen the immune system. Adults who are suffering from the chronic stress of having to care for an aging and demented parent, for example, typically score lower on immune system tests than do people who are not under unusual stress. Similarly, blood tests done on medical students have shown that immune system cells become less active during the stressful periods just before major exams.