SummarySeveral studies have reported immune cellular and humoral dysfunction during depression. We specifically focused on the study of the monocyte as it has a key role in the activation of the immune response. To examine the association between severity of depressive symptoms and values of monocyte parameters (HLA-DR, CD35, phagocytic activity and vimentin filaments), we used a longitudinal design and assessed monocyte markers at intake and at follow-up 12 weeks after discharge from the hospital in 49 depressed patients. Seventy percent of patients showed pretreatment a marked monocyte dysfunction (82.5% had at least one parameter altered). After treatment, alterations in immunological variables were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with depression scores higher than 15. The findings indicate that the monocyte dysfunction is temporally associated with the state of depression. Before and after treatment the immunoreactive vimentin filaments significantly increased (P < 0.01) after incubation of monocytes with naloxone, suggesting that an increased opioid activity might account for the monocyte dysfunction.
Prospective Associations Between Home Practice and Depressive Symptoms in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Recurrent Depression: A 15 Months Follow-Up Study
