Depression and T lymphocytes in patients with irritable bowel syndrome.
In 74 patients (23 male, 51 female) with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and in 15 matched control persons, an assessment of depression by means of the Zung Depression Self-Rating Scale (ZDS) and a determination of the number of total lymphocytes and T lymphocytes were carried out. In patients with IBS, the depression score was significantly higher than in controls. Among patients with IBS, the intensity of depressive symptoms did not relate to age, gender or to the type of the illness. IBS patients with a depression score on ZDS of 50 or more (31% of subjects) had a significantly lower number of total lymphocytes and T lymphocytes than the rest of IBS patients. The results may suggest a possible association between depression and indices of cellular immunity in IBS patients.
Swiatkowski
M
M
Department of Gastroenterology, Medical Academy, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Rybakowski
J K
JK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012397:Rosette Formation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*