Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 57, Issue 2 , Pages 155-158, August 2004

Social support as a buffer in the relationship between treatment for depression and T-cell production of interferon gamma in patients with multiple sclerosis

  • David C. Mohr

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Veterans Administration Medical Center, 4150 Clement St. (116-A), San Francisco, CA 94121, USA. Tel.: +1-415-221-4810x4636; fax: +1-415-751-2297
    • Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
    • ,
  • Claude Genain

      Affiliations

    • Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

Received 25 February 2003; accepted 10 November 2003.

Abstract 

Objective

This study examined the buffering effects of social support on the relationship between depression and autoaggressive immune function in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods

Fourteen participants with comorbid diagnoses of MS and major depressive disorder received 16 weeks of psychotherapy or antidepressant medications. Depression and T-cell production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), a lynchpin in MS pathogenesis, were assessed at baseline and posttreatment. Social support was assessed at baseline.

Results

Both depression and T-cell production of IFN-γ were significantly reduced over the 16 weeks of treatment. There was a significant interaction between change in depression, change in IFN-γ, and social support (R2=.26, P=.03) such that social support served as a buffer.

Conclusion

These results support the hypothesis that social support buffers the effects of change in depression on IFN-γ production. However, these findings should be viewed as preliminary due to the small sample size and the absence of a control condition.

Keywords:  Multiple sclerosis, Depression, Psychoneuroimmunology

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PII: S0022-3999(03)00601-9

doi:10.1016/S0022-3999(03)00601-9

Journal of Psychosomatic Research
Volume 57, Issue 2 , Pages 155-158, August 2004

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