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.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Cao
Yuping
Y
Mental Health Institute of Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 139 Renmin Middle Rd., Changsha, Hunan, China.
Zhang
YaLin
Y
Chang
Doris F
DF
Wang
GuoQiang
G
Zhang
XiangHui
X
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002681:China; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005260:Female; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009440:Neurasthenia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011594:Psychometrics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M