title: Depression, family and cellular immunity: Influence of family relationships and cellular immunity on the severity of depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Exposure to stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis through the release of catecholamines, which modify humoral and cellular immunity. On the one hand, this psycho-immunological theory makes it possible to forge links between immunity and depression. On the other hand, we know that family determinants are an important variable in the model of vulnerability to depression. Our study weighs the influence of cellular immunity and family relations on the severity of depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  498 inpatients with major depressive disorder were enrolled in an open-label trial. In addition to a socio-demographic questionnaire, they completed Olsen's FACES III and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Flow cytometry was used to assess lymphocyte subsets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In terms of immunity, there are correlations between the BDI and percentages of CD3 (p=0.015; r=-0.112), CD4 (p<0.000; r=-0.175), CD4/CD8 (p=0.045; r=-0.093) and CD16 and 56 (p=0.014; r=0.113). In terms of family relationships, there is a correlation between the BDI and family of origin, both for cohesion (p=0.007; r=-0.169) and adaptability (p=0.035; r=-0.133) measures. With respect to the relationship between family dynamics and immunity, there are correlations between adaptability in the family of origin and CD3 (p=0.04; r=0.094) and CD4 (p=0.044; r=0.093). A logistic regression model for family variables explained 11.4% of the BDI, compared to 12.7% for immune variables, while a model including the two explained 16%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While both the family and immunity can explain the BDI, it is surprising they have a greater effect in combination than individually. This suggests that the psycho-immunological theory should look at the relation between immunity and family life, notably in relation to the family of origin.
authors.affiliation: Université Catholique de Louvain, Psychopathology and Psychosomatics Unit, Mont-Godinne University Hospital, 5530 Yvoir, Belgium, Nicolas.zdanowicz@uclouvain.be.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zdanowicz
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reynaert
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jacques
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tordeurs
authors.forename: Brice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lepiece
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maury
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D055815:Young Adult