title: Psychopathology and lymphocyte subsets in patients with bulimia nervosa.
abstract: The association between lymphocyte subsets and several psychopathological variables which had proved to be able to affect immune cell count in other conditions was investigated in bulimia nervosa patients. Sixty-seven female bulimia nervosa patients and 29 female healthy controls were assessed for nutritional status (weight, blood cells, lymphocyte subsets, biochemical parameters and hormones) and psychopathology (anxiety, depression, hostility, impulsivity and borderline personality traits). A negative correlation between impulsivity and helper T-cells (CD4(+)) was found in controls. In the bulimia nervosa group, the patients with higher anxiety had the lower lymphocyte count, and anxiety and hostility were negatively related to CD4(+) count. In addition, helper/cytotoxic T-cell ratio negatively correlated in this group with impulsivity, hostility and depression. In the light of these results, the potential influence of psychopathology on lymphocyte subset counts seems to be specific in bulimia nervosa patients, and more relevant than in healthy controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Network of Badajoz, University of Extremadura/Extremadura Health Services, Badajoz, Spain. fjvaz@unex.es
authors.forename: Francisco J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Vaz-Leal
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Santos
authors.forename: M Josefa
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Melero-Ruiz
authors.forename: M Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Ramos-Fuentes
authors.forename: M Angustias
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Garcia-Herráiz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications; D015992:Body Mass Index; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000150:complications; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer; D055815:Young Adult