Crosstalk between the neuroendocrine and immune systems plays an essential role in inflammatory, autoimmune, and allergic diseases. An international group of scientists from the fields of neurobiology, neuroendocrinology, immunology, and behavioral sciences reports here on recent advances in our understanding of the communication and modulation taking place between the neuroendocrine and immunological systems. In an effort to incorporate all recent knowledge in this field, broad aspects of endocrinology and neuropsychiatric and autoimmune disorders is included, with special attention given to recent progress in molecular biology and genetics. In particular, the volume focuses on diseases of the nervous system and their modulation by the immune and endocrine systems, as well as on the neuroimmunomodulation of inflammatory, autoimmune, and allergic diseases with an emphasis on the female gender. Special care has been taken by the editors to balance basic and clinical information. The volume is divided into sections: the cytokine and neuropeptide signal transduction systems and their immunomodulatory properties, the neuroendocrine immune basis of rheumatic disease, models of inflammation, the immunology of neuropsychiatric and allergic disorders, neuroendocrine and autoimmune adaptations in aging, neuroimmune interactions in chronic pain disorders and infectious diseases, and finally a structural and functional overview of the stress system. Clinical applications have been extrapolated from the basic knowledge and physiology of neuroimmune interactions, so this volume will provide a useful update for both researchers and clinicians. NOTE: Annals volumes are available for sale as individual books or as a journal. For information on institutional journal subscriptions, please visit www.blackwellpublishing.com/nyas. ACADEMY MEMBERS: Please contact the New York Academy of Sciences directly to place your order (www.nyas.org). Members of the New York Academy of Science receive full-text access to the Annals online and discounts on print volumes. Please visit http://www.nyas.org/MemberCenter/Join.aspx for more information about becoming a member