Psychosocial and immunological factors in neurasthenia.

BACKGROUND: Neurasthenia is a disorder whose pathogenesis is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to examine the relationships between neurasthenia and possible psychosocial and immunological correlates. METHOD: A sample of 30 Chinese neurasthenic patients was compared with a matched sample of 30 control subjects for 1) the level of serum Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) gamma G immunoglobulin (IgG) and gamma M immunoglobulin (IgM); 2) scores on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ); 3) the Symptom Checklist-90; and 4) the Life Event Scale (LES); 27 of the 30 neurasthenia patients were treated with medication and psychotherapy for a 4-month period, with measures taken pre- and posttreatment. RESULTS: As compared with the control group, neurasthenic patients exhibited higher EPQ scores for neuroticism, higher levels of introversion, and a higher number of negative life events. Within the neurasthenia sample, scores for neuroticism and the SCL-90 Global Severity Index were significantly lower at follow-up than at baseline. CONCLUSION: As compared with control subjects, neurasthenia patients were characterized by greater neuroticism and introversion, and they reported a higher rate of negative life events. Moreover, the positive rate of EBV in neurasthenic patients was higher, which may be associated with higher EBV activation under states of stress.

Platelet alpha2-adrenoceptor density in humans: relationships to stress-induced anxiety, psychasthenic constitution, gender and stress-induced changes in the inflammatory response system.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the effects of psychological stress on platelet alpha2-adrenergic receptor (alpha2-AR) binding sites in relation to stress-induced anxiety and changes in the inflammatory response system (IRS). METHODS: The maximum number of binding sites (Bmax) and their affinity (Kd) for [3H]rauwolscine, a selective alpha2-AR antagonist, and the stimulated production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), the Th1-like cytokine, interferon-gamma (IFNgamma), and the Th2-like cytokines, interleukin-10 (IL-10) and IL-5, were measured in 35 university students a few weeks before (baseline) as well as on the day before a difficult, oral examination (stress condition). The State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was recorded during both conditions. The Minnesota Multiphase Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) was used to assess psychasthenia (Scale 7). RESULTS: Academic examination stress induced a significant increase in alpha2-AR density in students whose STAI scores increased in the stress period, in female students and in students who scored higher on psychasthenia. There were significant and positive correlations between stress-induced anxiety and changes in alpha2-AR density. Stress-induced anxiety was accompanied by a pro-inflammatory and Th1-like response, i.e. increased IFNgamma and TNFalpha production. The stress-induced changes in platelet alpha2-AR density were significantly and positively related to the production of TNFalpha, IL-10 and IL-5 and negatively to that of IFNgamma. CONCLUSIONS: Subchronic psychological stress in humans induces increased alpha2-AR density, which is related to stress-induced anxiety, an anxiety-prone constitution and female sex. Increased alpha2-AR density is accompanied by a Th2-like response and increased TNFalpha production. The results suggest that: (i) alpha2-AR density is sensitive to graded differences in stress-induced anxiety; and (ii) psychological stress is accompanied by intertwined responses in the catecholaminergic system, such as alpha2-ARs, and the IRS, such as Th1/Th2-like functions and the production of TNFalpha.

Depression and allergies: survey of a nonclinical population.

The possible association between depression and type I allergies (i.e. immunoglobulin E-mediated hay fever, asthma, eczema, hives) was examined in a nonclinical sample of 379 college students. Measures included self-reports of depression, tiredness, fearfulness, allergic disorders, and environmental allergens and irritants. Seventy-one percent of the subjects who had ever received a professional diagnosis of depression also indicated a history of allergy: those with greater self-rated current depression overall reported a significantly higher prevalence of asthma (p less than 0.05). Type I allergic (43%) and nonallergic subjects did not differ in self-rated frequency of depression, fatigue, or anxiety. However, type I subjects reported significantly worse mood after the flu than did nonallergic subjects (p less than 0.001). The data support the hypothesis that individuals prone to clinical depression have more allergies than nondepressives. Allergics may experience more postflu mood worsening but not current depression in comparison with nonallergics.

[Characteristics of immunologic and neuro-hormonal status in patients with neuroses]. / Osobennosti immunnogo i neirogormonal'nogo statusa bol'nykh nevrozami.

More than 3500 neurotic patients have been examined with emphasis on their immune status and functioning of the sympathoadrenal system (SAS) (determination of adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine and L-DOPA excretion in terms of their daily biorhythm). The comparison of the immune and neurohormonal data of neurotic patients indicated an obvious relation between the immune status and the type of SAS functioning. The high-risk group comprises patients with the adrenaline type of SAS functioning and pronounced adrenaline and noradrenaline hypersecretion, SAS hypofunction, and imbalance between the hormone-mediated and immunologic characteristics.