Abstract
Background: Like major depression, dysthymia has been associated with elevated production
of interleukin-1 (IL-1β) in mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes. In the present investigation,
we assessed whether the elevated IL-1β production in dysthymic patients would normalize
following treatment with sertraline.
Methods: The production of IL-1β was determined in dysthymic patients and in nondepressed
control subjects. Patients then received 12 weeks of doses of either sertraline or
placebo in a double-blind trial, after which cytokine production was again determined.
Results: Basal IL-1β was elevated in dysthymic patients relative to control subjects.
Cytokine production was modestly correlated with the severity of symptoms and with
the age of illness onset. Relative to placebo treatment, sertraline attenuated the
symptoms of depression; however, this was not accompanied by normalization of IL-1β
production.
Conclusions: While dysthymia is associated with elevated IL-1β production, the failure
for the cytokine to normalize following symptom alleviation suggests that either the
IL-1β may be a trait marker of the illness, or that more sustained treatment is necessary
to reduce cytokine production. Given the neuroendocrine and central neurochemical
consequences of exogenously administered IL-1β, the possibility ought to be explored
that increased IL-1β production may play a role in the pathophysiology of dysthymia.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
July 23,
1999
Received in revised form:
July 21,
1999
Received:
May 10,
1999
Identification
Copyright
© 1999 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
