Citation

Murdock KW, Stowe RP, Peek MK, Lawrence SL, Fagundes CP. Psychosom. Med. 2018; 80(1): 49-54.

Affiliation

1 Department of Psychology, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA 2 Microgen Laboratories, 903 Texas Avenue, La Marque, TX 77568, USA 3 Department of Preventative Medicine and Community Health, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555, USA 4 Department of Symptoms Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Unit 1450, Houston, Texas 77030 5 Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza - BCM350, Houston, Texas 77030.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, American Psychosomatic Society, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PSY.0000000000000514

PMID

28787365

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Exposure to major life stressors is associated with subsequent enhanced inflammation-related disease processes. Depressive symptoms exacerbate stress-induced inflammatory responses. Moreover, those who report a high degree of perceived health risk prior to being exposed to a major life stressor such as a disaster are at risk of poor health outcomes. The present study examined whether perceived health risk and depressive symptoms prior to a disaster were associated with post-disaster inflammation markers.

METHODS: The sample included 124 participants (mean age 55 (SD=16) years; 69% women). At a baseline visit, participants completed self-report measures of perceived health risk and depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale; CES-D) in addition to a blood draw for the assessment of inflammation markers (C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, and interleukin-6). All participants lived near a large petrochemical complex where an unexpected explosion occurred. A second blood sample was obtained two to six months after the explosion.

RESULTS: No significant differences in inflammation markers were found between pre- and post-disaster assessments (p >.21). An interaction between pre-disaster perceived health risk and depressive symptoms in predicting post-disaster circulating inflammation markers was identified (Cohen's f =.051). Specifically, pre-disaster perceived health risk was associated with post-disaster circulating inflammation markers if pre-disaster depressive symptoms were greater than 8.10 on the CES-D.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings add to our understanding of the complex interactions between stress, depression, and immune responses. Indeed, findings provide a potential mechanism (i.e., inflammation) explaining the association between exposure to major life stressors and negative mental and physical health outcomes.

Language: en