title: Blunted exercise-induced mobilization of monocytes in somatization syndromes and major depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research indicates that physical activity may alter the number of immune cells. We examined whether increasing or decreasing the level of physical activity affects circulating lymphocyte and monocyte counts in patients with somatization syndromes and patients with major depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight participants with major depression, 26 participants with somatization syndromes and 47 healthy controls participated in the study. Using an experimental within-subject design, participants were involved in 1 week of increased physical activity (daily exercise sessions) and 1 week of reduced physical activity. Counts of total lymphocytes, lymphocyte subsets and monocytes were determined before and after each trial. Linear mixed models adjusted for sex, body mass index, age, fitness status and the order of trials were used for longitudinal data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One week of exercise increases the number of monocytes in healthy controls (p<.05), but not in patients with somatization syndromes or patients with major depression. In addition, after 1 week of exercise, depressive symptoms were reduced in patients with major depression (p<.05) while somatoform symptoms were reduced (p<.05) in both clinical groups. Baseline comparisons and mixed models indicated reduced T helper cell counts in patients with somatization syndromes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relatively small sample size. The time of physical activity was relatively short and restricted to low-graded exercise.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates a blunted mobilization of monocytes by exercise in both patients with somatization syndromes and patients with major depression. In addition, even one week of exercise reduces somatoform and depressive symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany. Electronic address: frank.euteneuer@staff.uni-marburg.de.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Euteneuer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Laboratory Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilian Universität, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmidmaier
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Anika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hennings
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riemer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Theresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Stapf
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Verena B
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Selberdinger
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychological Methods, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Süssenbach
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dannehl
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Philipps Universität, Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rief
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets; D008214:Lymphocytes; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes; D018401:Sample Size; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013577:Syndrome
keywords: Depression; Exercise; Lymphocytes; Monocytes; Physical activity; Somatization