Background: Major depression occurs in 4.4% to 20% of the general population. Studies suggest that major depression is accompanied by immune dysregulation and activation of the inflammatory response system (IRS). Our objective was to quantitatively summarize the data on concentrations of specific cytokines in patients diagnosed with a major depressive episode and controls.
Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of studies measuring cytokine concentration in patients with major depression, with a database search of the English literature (to August 2009) and a manual search of references.
Results: Twenty-four studies involving unstimulated measurements of cytokines in patients meeting DSM criteria for major depression were included in the meta-analysis; 13 for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, 9 for interleukin (IL)-1beta, 16 for IL-6, 5 for IL-4, 5 for IL-2, 4 for IL-8, 6 for IL-10, and 4 for interferon (IFN)-gamma. There were significantly higher concentrations of TNF-alpha (p < .00001), weighted mean difference (WMD) (95% confidence interval) 3.97 pg/mL (2.24 to 5.71), in depressed subjects compared with control subjects (438 depressed/350 nondepressed). Also, IL-6 concentrations were significantly higher (p < .00001) in depressed subjects compared with control subjects (492 depressed/400 nondepressed) with an overall WMD of 1.78 pg/mL (1.23 to 2.33). There were no significant differences among depressed and nondepressed subjects for the other cytokines studied.
Conclusions: This meta-analysis reports significantly higher concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-6 in depressed subjects compared with control subjects. While both positive and negative results have been reported in individual studies, this meta-analytic result strengthens evidence that depression is accompanied by activation of the IRS.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.09.033 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Prevalence of mental health conditions in post-conflict Kasai Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A repeated, cross-sectional study.
PLOS Glob Public Health
January 2025
Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Globally, one in five people in post-conflict areas are estimated to be living with a mental health condition. As a key public health issue, these conditions negatively affect individuals, communities, and societies to function after a conflict. Documenting the prevalence of mental health conditions amongst these populations is crucial to prioritise and guide future mental health interventions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAge matters when improving symptoms of anxiety, depression, and sleepiness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea treated with continuous positive airway pressure.
Int Clin Psychopharmacol
January 2025
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco - Fresno, Fresno, California, USA.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent sleep disorder linked to significant daytime sleepiness and mood disturbances. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the standard treatment for OSA, but its effects on mental health outcomes, are not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of CPAP on daytime sleepiness, depressive symptoms, and anxiety symptoms while assessing how improvements vary with age.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA randomized trial of virtual reality eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy for major depressive disorder with childhood trauma: A 3-month follow-up study.
Psychol Trauma
January 2025
Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University.
Objective: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) is effective in treating major depressive disorder (MDD) with childhood trauma, and virtual reality (VR) can further extend its application form. However, the utilization of VR-EMDR in treating MDD with childhood trauma is still in its infancy, and whether it can improve depressive symptoms and traumatic experience remains unknown.
Method: Seventy-two MDD patients were randomly allocated to the intervention group and the wait-list control group on a 1:1 basis.
Sudden gains in the treatment of children and adolescents with prolonged grief.
J Consult Clin Psychol
January 2025
Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Utrecht University.
Objective: Sudden gains describe large and stable reductions in symptoms between two consecutive treatment sessions and have not yet been investigated in prolonged grief disorder (PGD), a new disorder in the 11th edition of the and text revision of the fifth edition of the characterized by separation distress and accompanying symptoms beyond 6 months of bereavement. The study aimed to examine the occurrence of sudden gains and their relation to treatment outcome and content during cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and supportive counseling for children and adolescents with PGD symptoms.
Method: We used data from 118 patients (50% female; age: = 12.
Mediators of a randomized controlled trial of a preventive intervention for youth of parents with depressive disorders.
J Consult Clin Psychol
January 2025
Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University.
Objective: The present study assessed two theory-driven mediators of the effects of a family group cognitive-behavioral (FGCB) preventive intervention for youth of parents with a history of major depressive disorder (MDD) or dysthymia on long-term youth psychopathology symptoms and diagnoses.
Method: Sample included 180 parents ( = 41.9, 89% female, 82% White, non-Hispanic) and one of their children/adolescents ages 9-15 years ( = 11.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!