Increased immunological markers in female adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury.

Kindler, Jochen; Koenig, Julian; Lerch, Stefan; van der Venne, Patrice; Resch, Franz; Kaess, Michael (2022). Increased immunological markers in female adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury. Journal of Affective Disorders, 318, pp. 191-195. Elsevier 10.1016/j.jad.2022.08.125

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BACKGROUND

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a prevalent health problem among adolescents and commonly associated with psychological stressors such as childhood maltreatment and comorbid psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression). There is evidence that alterations of immunological markers may occur in the context of both environmental stress and psychopathological development.

METHOD

Here, we investigated differences in plasma/serum leukocytes, cortisol, c-reactive protein and interleukin-6 in a large sample of female adolescents with NSSI (n = 155) and healthy controls (HC, n = 42). Further, we assessed correlations between inflammatory markers, depression severity and the severity of childhood maltreatment.

RESULTS

The absolute number of leukocytes and the leukocyte/cortisol ratio (adjusted for body mass index and smoking) were significantly higher in NSSI as compared to HC, whereas interleukin-6 and CRP levels did not differ significantly between groups. Childhood maltreatment scores were significantly correlated with the leukocyte/cortisol ratio and depression severity was significantly correlated with both, absolute leukocyte numbers and the leukocyte/cortisol ratio.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that an immune activation can be detected in female adolescents with NSSI. Depression and childhood maltreatment, which are commonly reported in NSSI, may potentially underlie immune activation and partially explain group differences.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > University Psychiatric Services > University Hospital of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy

UniBE Contributor:

Kindler, Jochen, Koenig, Julian, Lerch, Stefan, Kaess, Michael

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0165-0327

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Pubmed Import

Date Deposited:

05 Sep 2022 13:26

Last Modified:

01 Sep 2023 00:25

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.jad.2022.08.125

PubMed ID:

36057292

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Adolescents Childhood trauma Depression Immunology Non-suicidal self-injury Stress

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/172660

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/172660

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