Alexithymia and interleukin variations in somatoform disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate if somatoform disorders (SFD) are associated with changes in the normal serum levels of important interleukins, and further, to establish if these changes are related to the presence and severity of alexithymia in patients with SFD.


METHODS
Twenty-four unmedicated patients who met the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) diagnostic criteria for SFD completed the psychological questionnaire to assess alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale), symptom reporting (SCL-90-R) and diagnostic criteria for SFD (Screening for Somatoform Symptoms scale). Serum concentrations of soluble interleukin 2 receptor alpha (sIL-2 Ralpha), IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 were determined in patients with SFD and in 9 healthy subjects.


RESULTS
In patients with SFD, serum levels of IL-6 (p < 0.001), IL-10 (p = 0.047) and immunoglobulin E (p = 0.045) were significantly increased in comparison with healthy controls. Additionally, a negative correlation was observed between the level of alexithymia ('total' Toronto Alexithymia Scale score) and the serum levels of sIL-2 Ralpha (r = -0.538) in SFD.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, these results suggest that SFD, with clinically significant alexithymia, are associated with a reduction in Th1-mediated immune function and an increase in the activation of the Th2 immune function, indicated by the augmented serum levels of IL-6 and IL-10 and elevated immunoglobulin E.
Pedrosa Gil
Francisco
F
Psychosomatic Ambulance and Outpatient Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine Innenstadt, Ludwig Maximilians University, Munich, Germany. Francisco.Pedrosa.Gil@med.uni-muenchen.de
Nickel
Marius
M
Ridout
Nathan
N
Schwarz
Markus J
MJ
Schoechlin
Claudia
C
Schmidmaier
Ralf
R
D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood*; D008403:Mass Screening; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology
D015415:Biomarkers; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D015850:Interleukin-6; D007378:Interleukins; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007073:Immunoglobulin E