Journal
JOURNAL OF PSYCHOSOMATIC RESEARCH
Volume 57, Issue 2, Pages 155-158Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3999(03)00601-9
Keywords
multiple sclerosis; depression; psychoneuroimmunology
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Funding
- NIMH NIH HHS [R01 MH 59708] Funding Source: Medline
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Objective: This study examined the buffering effects of social support on the relationship between depression and autoaggressive immune function in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Fourteen participants with comorbid diagnoses of MS and major depressive disorder received 16 weeks of psychotherapy or antidepressant medications. Depression and T-cell production of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a lynchpin in MS pathogenesis, were assessed at baseline and posttreatment. Social support was assessed at baseline. Results: Both depression and T-cell production of IFN-gamma were significantly reduced over the 16 weeks of treatment. There was a significant interaction between change in depression, change in IFN-gamma, and social support (R =.26, P=.03) such that social support served as a buffer. Conclusion: These results support the hypothesis that social support buffers the effects of change in depression on IFN-gamma production. However, these findings should be viewed as preliminary due to the small sample size and the absence of a control condition. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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