Abstract
BackgroundThe associations between depression and immunity were investigated by measuring the scores of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and peripheral lymphocyte parameters in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).MethodsForty-nine patients with MDD were recruited and their clinical symptoms are evaluated with 17-item HRSD which was factorized using the confirmatory factor analysis (i.e., depression factor, insomnia factor, and anxiety factor). Basic immunologic variables such as CD4, CD8, and CD56-positive cell numbers were measured by flow cytometry. Natural killer cell activity (NKCA) was also assessed by ELISA method using K-562 cells as target cells. All patients were treated for 4 weeks with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Immunologic and clinical variables were measured both at baseline and after medication.ResultsCD8-positive cell number was increased (p < .05) and CD4/CD8 ratio was decreased (p < .01) after medication. NKCA showed a significant positive correlation with anxiety factor scores of HRSD (p < .05) at baseline. However, except NKCA, there was no correlation between other immunologic measures and symptom factors.ConclusionThese results suggest that immunologic measure such as NKCA may be an important variable for symptom of MDD such as anxiety during acute depressive state.
Highlights
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders. 10–25% of women and 5–10% of men may become susceptible to the condition once or more in their life [1]
Patients with abnormal findings in a battery of clinical laboratory test were excluded. Those who had suffered from an immunologic disease or a malignant tumor were excluded. Those who had taken any other medicine during the 4 week period of treatment or who were found to have suffered from a cold or symptoms of inflammation by medical history or physical examinations were excluded. 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) was used to assess the symptoms of major depres‐ sive disorder (MDD) in the subjects at baseline and after 4 week treatment
This study aimed to examine the immunologic changes by medication in patients with MDD, assess correlation between immunologic variables and symptom factors, and determine association between depression disorder and immune functions
Summary
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders. 10–25% of women and 5–10% of men may become susceptible to the condition once or more in their life [1]. Many researchers have demonstrated that changes of immune functions may play an important role in increasing mortality and morbidity among patients with MDD [4, 5]. Several methods had been used to measure lymphocytes, determine how the lymphocytes function, and assess markers of immune activity in patients with MDD. The functions of lymphocytes have been assessed on the basis of lymphocyte proliferation by mitogen stimulation, NK cell activity (NKCA), and the cytokine secretion. Many researchers have reported that lymphocyte proliferation by mitogen was decreased and a consistent decrease in NKCA in patients with MDD [9, 13]. The associations between depression and immunity were investigated by measuring the scores of Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) and peripheral lymphocyte parameters in patients with major depres‐ sive disorder (MDD)
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