The aetiology of social deficits within mental health disorders:The role of the immune system and endogenous opioids

The American National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) has put out a set of research goals that include a long-term plan to identify more reliable endogenous explanations for a wide variety of mental health disorders (Insel, 2013). In response to this, we have identified a major symptom that underlies multiple mental health disorders – social bonding dysfunction. We suggest that endogenous opioid abnormalities can lead to altered social bonding, which is a symptom of various mental health disorders, including depression, schizophrenia and ASD. This article first outlines how endogenous opioids play a role in social bonding. Then we show their association with the body’s inflammation immune function, and review recent literature linking inflammation to mental health ‘immunophenotypes’. We finish by explaining how these immunophenotypes may be caused by alterations in the endogenous opioid system. This is the first overview of the role of inflammation across multiple disorders where we provide a biochemical explanation for why immunophenotypes might exist across diagnoses. We propose a novel mechanism of how the immune system may be causing ‘sickness-type’ behaviours (fatigue, appetite change, social withdrawal and inhibited motivation) in those who have these immunophenotypes. We hope that this novel aetiology can be used as a basis for future research in mental health

Samuel Kolmen interview (1) conducted on January 17, 1984 about the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University

In the first of four interviews, Dr. Samuel N. Kolmen, first Chair of the Department of Physiology at the Wright State University School of Medicine, talks about his early career, academic background and his reasons for coming to Wright State University. He then goes on to discuss the state of development of the School of Medicine when he arrived at Wright State University in January, 1975 and his early tasks as department chairer [sic]. Dr. Kolmen discusses at length the development of the School of Medicine curriculum and the matrix departments in the School of Medicine, with emphasis on how these developments affected the university and the overall development of the School of Medicine and the College of Science and Engineering. The interview closes with a discussion of the recruiting methodology employed by the Physiology Department in hiring faculty

Samuel Kolmen interview (2) conducted on January 18, 1984 about the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University

The second interview with Dr. Samuel N. Kolmen takes as its central theme the development of the bylaws for the School of Medicine, which Dr. Kolmen worked on as one of his first priorities upon arriving at Wright State University in 1975. Areas covered under the bylaws theme include: establishment of committee constituencies within School of Medicine committees; the political structure of the School of Medicine; the non-tenure system of the School of Medicine; policymaking in the School; the impact of the bylaws on the development of the School of Medicine and its integration into the university community. Continuing the theme of integration, Dr. Kolmen discusses the Nursing Controversy and the role it played in bringing the School of Medicine faculty closer to the university faculty. Other themes brought out in this interview are: the responsibilities and accomplishments of Dr. Kolmen outside of his normal chair\u27s responsibilities that pertain to the School of Medicine; interrelationship between the Physiology Department and the University of Dayton; and Dr. Kolmen\u27s thoughts on the nature of his relationship with former Dean Dr. John Beljan

Samuel Kolmen interview (3) conducted on January 23, 1984 about the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University

In the third interview with Dr. Samuel Kolmen, he continues his discussion of curricular issues in the development of the School of Medicine. Dr. Kolmen then discusses his activities in the areas of Student affairs and Minority programs of the School of Medicine. Dr. Kolmen next deals with the problems of integrating the School of Medicine into the area and university communities, with emphasis on how the School of Medicine faculty and staff worked to allay political and economic fears. He discusses the importance of the Community Medical Societies to School of Medicine integration into the Miami Valley Community, along with School of Medicine relations with other organizations such as the Veteran\u27s Administration, etc. Finally, Dr. Kolmen discusses his views on the future of the School of Medicine and the impacts of Deans Beljan and Sawyer on School of Medicine development

WSUSOM Curriculum Evaluation: Analysis Using NBME Examinations. Program Evaluation Studies, Report No. 8

This report presents a method for analyzing curriculum using the examinations of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). The method provides a system by which the NBME examinations can be used each year to compare the content of an external licensing test with the content of the curriculum at the Wright State University School of Medicine (WSUSOM). The NBME test items were classified by faculty content experts on four dimensions: school-wide topics, discipline topics, cognitive levels, and item types. Then, the percent of WSUSOM students and percent of national sample answering the item correctly were recorded. The analysis allows comparison of the performance of WSUSOM student and the national sample on each school-wide or discipline topic. The Faculty Curriculum Committee is the most interested user of data related to school-wide topics, while the individual department is the most appropriate audience for the discipline topic information. Curriculum decision-makers should take special caution in examining the results for a single year\u27s administration, since test content varies from year to year. (Author/BW

Samuel Kolmen interview (4) conducted on January 24, 1984 about the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University

In this fourth and final interview with Dr. Samuel Kolmen, first Chairer [sic] of the School of Medicine\u27s Department of Physiology, Dr. Kolmen outlines and discusses the organization and development of the Biomedical Ph.D. Program at Wright State University, a program he helped to initiate and develop. Dr. Kolmen discusses the following aspects/features of the Biomedical Ph.D. Program: factors considered in developing the Program; premises of the Program; individuals who contributed to the development of the Program; the budgeting and presentation of the program prospectus to the Regents Advisory Graduate Committee (RAGC) in Columbus; the development of supplemental features of the Program and the impact of the Program on accreditation, faculty development, and School of Medicine research efforts. Dr. Kolmen goes on to describe the major features of the program and its possibly serving as a model for similar Ph.D. programs at Wright State University