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Psychiatria Danubina, Vol. 29 No. suppl. 3, 2017.

Conference paper

DEPRESSION AND IMMUNITY: A PSYCHOSOMATIC UNIT

Nicolas Zdanowicz ; Université Catholique de Louvain, Psychosomatics Unit, Mont-Godinne University Hospital, Yvoir, Belgium
Christine Reynaert ; Université Catholique de Louvain, Psychosomatics Unit, Mont-Godinne University Hospital, Yvoir, Belgium
Denis Jacques ; Université Catholique de Louvain, Psychosomatics Unit, Mont-Godinne University Hospital, Yvoir, Belgium
Thomas Dubois ; Université Catholique de Louvain, Psychosomatics Unit, Mont-Godinne University Hospital, Yvoir, Belgium

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Abstract

Background: The effects of depression on the immune system are well known. Recently, depression as a consequence of an
immune disorder has received increased research attention. Here, we test the hypothesis that the depression–immunity association is a buffer zone between external stimuli, defence mechanisms, and intrinsic determinants.
Subjects and methods: Five hundred and forty-nine patients presenting with a major depressive episode completed the Beck
Depression Inventory (BDI), Lazarus and Folkman’s coping inventory, and the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Scale (FACES
III). Lymphocyte subtypes were quantified using flow cytometry.
Results: Links between immunity and depression were confirmed: levels of CD3, CD4 and CD8 cells accounted for 12.7% of the
variance in the BDI (p<0.001, linear regression; LR). The depression–immunity pairing interacted with family dynamics, coping
mechanisms, and gender. Dynamics in the family of origin explained 11.4%of the BDI score (LR) and 1% of CD3 and CD4 levels
(p<0.001, Pearson’s r). Coping mechanisms were associated with 12% of the BDI score (p<0.001, LR), and the capacity of
distancing oneself from one’s problems was associated with 10.3% of CD3, CD8, and CD16/56 levels (p<0.01, LR). BDI scores in women were 2.9 points higher than in men (p<0.01, t=2.379) and associated with a greater risk of immune depression (p<0.001, odds ratio=0.5).
Conclusions: External determinants (family), coping mechanisms, and internal determinants (such as gender) simultaneously
influence a depression–immunity pairing. Sometimes these factors act more on the mood component, sometimes more on the immune component. The two components also interact closely with each other.

Keywords

immunity; psychosomatic; depression

Hrčak ID:

263829

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/263829

Publication date:

15.6.2017.

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