Decreased Immune Response in Alexithymic Women

A One-Year Longitudinal Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15524353
AuthorsOlivier Guilbaud (Institute Mutualiste Montsouris, corresponding author), Claire Perrin (0000-0001-7275-4512, Institute Mutualiste Montsouris), Florence Curt (Institute Mutualiste Montsouris), Gerard Chaouat (Inserm), Corinne Dugré-Le Bigre (Institute Mutualiste Montsouris), Martine Strebler (Institute Mutualiste Montsouris), Catherine Touitou, Maurice Corcos (0000-0002-9695-5439, Institute Mutualiste Montsouris)
Year2021
Volume12
Pages756031-756031
Publication date2021-12-20
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1664-0640 • E-ISSN: 1664-0640
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpsyt.2021.756031
PMID34987425
OpenAlexW4200419717
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited47

Although previous cross-sectional studies suggested significantly dysregulated immune response in alexithymia, there is a lack of longitudinal studies. We sought to determine the reliability of the reported relationship between alexithymia and decreased immune response in a longitudinal study. Thirty-eight healthy women who had participated in a cross-sectional study were recontacted 1-year later. Of this sample, 26 were finally included: 13 females who had been found to be alexithymic, and 13 females who were classified as non-alexithymic under the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale during the first phase of the study. A year later, they were still healthy women without any psychiatric disorders, their ages now ranging from 19 to 28 years old. Lymphocyte subset counts (CD4, CD8), in vitro production of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-4, and IL-10 by phytohemagglutinin stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes, as well as serum cortisol levels, were compared between women with and without alexithymia. One-year later, alexithymic women still had significantly lowered in vitro production of IL-2 and IL-4, with lowered IL-2/IL-10 ratio and a reduced percentage of CD4. This is the first ever published study assessing cytokine production during a follow-up of alexithymics . Although our results should be interpreted with caution due the small sample size, they suggest a sustained reduction in both major type 1 and type 2 cytokines while the former seems to be more affected. The potential long-term health impact, if any, is still to be determined

Alexithymia · Cytokine · Immune system · Longitudinal study · Lymphocyte · Toronto Alexithymia Scale · Clinical Psychology · Complementary and Alternative Medicine Studies · Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research · Medicine · Psychology · Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments · Immunology · Internal Medicine

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