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Depression and immunity: age, severity, and clinical course
A V Andreoli1, S E Keller, M Rabaeus
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Geneva School of Medicine, Switzerland.
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
|December 1, 1993
Summary
Major Depressive Disorder is linked to immune system changes. Age and illness severity impact lymphocyte counts and responses, suggesting a connection between depression and immune function.
Area of Science:
- Psychoneuroimmunology
- Clinical Immunology
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Depressive disorders are associated with altered immune function.
- Understanding the relationship between Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and immune alterations is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the link between immunity and clinical features of depression.
- To investigate how age and severity in MDD affect T lymphocyte numbers and mitogen responses.
Main Methods:
- Studied 53 untreated adult outpatients with Major Depressive Episode (MDE) and 53 healthy controls.
- Assessed lymphocyte subsets, NK cell counts, and responses to mitogens (PHA, Con A, PWM).
- Analyzed correlations with age, duration of depression, and time since last antidepressant medication.
Main Results:
- A trend for decreased NK cells was observed in MDE patients.
- In MDE subjects, older age correlated with lower total lymphocytes, B cells, DR+ cells, and reduced PHA/Con A responses.
- Depression duration correlated with reduced PHA, Con A, and PWM responses, independent of age.
- Time since last antidepressant correlated with lymphocyte, T cell, and NK cell counts, independent of age.
Conclusions:
- Age and clinical characteristics of depression are significant factors in psychoimmunological relationships in MDD.
- These findings highlight the interplay between the immune system and the clinical presentation of Major Depressive Disorder.