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A Psychological Intervention Reduces Inflammatory Markers by Alleviating Depressive Symptoms: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

From the Department of Psychology (L.M.T., B.L.A., T.A.S.) and Comprehensive Cancer Center (B.L.A., W.E.C.), Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio; and the Division of Surgical Oncology (W.E.C.), College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Lisa M. Thornton, Department of Psychology, Ohio State University, 159 Psychology Building, 1835 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210. E-mail: thornton.84{at}osu.edu

Objectives: To test experimentally whether a psychological intervention reduces depression-related symptoms and markers of inflammation among cancer patients and to test one mechanism for the intervention effects. Depression and inflammation are common among cancer patients. Data suggest that inflammation can contribute to depressive symptoms, although the converse remains untested.

Methods: As part of a randomized clinical trial, newly diagnosed breast cancer patients (n = 45) with clinically significant depressive symptoms were evaluated and randomized to psychological intervention with assessment or assessment only study arms. The intervention spanned 12 months, with assessments at baseline, 4, 8, and 12 months. Mixed-effects modeling tested the hypothesis that the intervention reduced self-reported depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale, Profile of Mood States Depression and Fatigue subscales, and Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 36 Bodily Pain subscale) and immune cell numbers that are elevated in the presence of inflammation (white blood cell count, neutrophil count, and helper/suppressor ratio). Mediation analyses tested whether change in depressive symptoms, pain, or fatigue predicted change in white blood cell count, neutrophil count, or the helper/suppressor ratio.

Results: The intervention reduced significantly depressive symptoms, pain, fatigue, and inflammation markers. Moreover, the intervention effect on inflammation was mediated by its effect on depressive symptoms.

Conclusions: This is the first experiment to test whether psychological treatment effective in reducing depressive symptoms would also reduce indicators of inflammation. Data show that the intervention reduced directly depressive symptoms and reduced indirectly inflammation. Psychological treatment may treat effectively depressive symptoms, pain, and fatigue among cancer patients.

Key Words: psychological intervention • cancer • depression • white blood cell count • inflammation • pain • fatigue

Abbreviations: CES-D = Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale, Iowa short form; SF-36 = Medical Outcomes Study-Short Form 36; KPS = Karnofsky Performance Status.