“Our results were most consistent for interventions that included CBT [cognitive-behavioral therapy] and multiple psychotherapies,” wrote Grant Shields, Ph.D., of the University of California, Davis, and colleagues. “Furthermore, the findings did not differ by participant age, gender, or duration of intervention. Finally, we found that these associations persisted for at least six months after treatment discontinuation.”

How was the study carried out?

Shields and colleagues reviewed placebo-controlled studies that examined the effects of a psychosocial intervention on some degree of immune health. Most of the studies tested psychosocial interventions in people with cancer or HIV.

After applying the exclusion and inclusion criteria, 56 studies covering eight types of therapy were included in the analysis. The eight interventions included: behavior therapy, which aims to help patients understand and change problematic behaviors; cognitive therapy, which teaches patients how to change negative thoughts or mindsets; cognitive behavioral therapy, which combines elements of cognitive and behavioral therapies; CBT; CBT plus supportive interventions such as telephone follow-up; bereavement or supportive therapy; psychoeducation; other psychotherapy (such as stress management); or multiple interventions.

The studies also included seven immune system biomarkers: proinflammatory cytokine levels, anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, antibody levels, white blood cell counts, white blood cell activity, viral load (for example, HIV levels), and other outcomes such as postoperative infections.

What are the findings?

Overall, participants who received any psychosocial intervention experienced a 14.7% increase in positive immune outcomes, such as lower viral load, and an 18.0% decrease in harmful outcomes, such as proinflammatory cytokines, compared to those who did not receive psychosocial intervention. Improvements in immune markers were particularly strong among patients who received CBT or multiple psychosocial interventions. Among biomarkers, reductions in proinflammatory cytokines were the strongest associated with psychosocial interventions.

How are the results interpreted?

“Given the efficacy and relative affordability of psychosocial interventions to treat chronic diseases, we propose that psychosocial interventions may represent a valid strategy for reducing disease burden and improving human health. Moving forward, additional research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms by which psychosocial interventions exert relatively long-lasting, beneficial effects on the immune system and health,” the authors noted.

SOURCE:

– Shields, G. S., Spahr, C. M., & Slavich, G. M. Psychosocial interventions and immune system function: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. JAMA psychiatry, 77(10), 1031-1043. – Psychiatric News Alert . “Psychosocial Therapies Found to Boost Immune Function”

The post Psychosocial Therapies Improve Immune Function first appeared on Necip Yurddas.

Dr Julian Mutz and Prof Cathryn Lewis, from King’s College London, examined data on 168 different blood metabolites from 110,780 participants in the UK Biobank. They linked this data with information about whether individuals had a history of mental illness and found that those with psychiatric disorders had a metabolite profile that would be expected to emerge in later life.

Lead researcher Dr. Julian Mutz, who presented the study at the European Congress of Psychiatry in Paris, said:

“It is now possible to estimate people’s age from their blood metabolites. We found that, on average, those with a lifetime history of mental illness had a metabolite profile that suggested they were older than their actual age. For example, people with bipolar disorder had blood markers that suggested they were about 2 years older than their chronological age.”

Health and life expectancy

People with psychiatric disorders tend to have shorter lives and poorer quality of health than the general population. Impact estimates vary by mental health condition. People with psychiatric disorders are often more prone to developing conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, and these conditions worsen with age.

A 2019 study found that life expectancy for people with psychiatric disorders is about 10 years shorter for men and seven years shorter for women (compared to the general population).

Dr. Mutz continued:

“Our findings suggest that the bodies of people with psychiatric disorders tend to be older than expected for an individual their age. This may not explain all the differences in health and life expectancy between those with psychiatric disorders and the general population, but it does suggest that accelerated biological ageing may be an important factor.”

Commenting on the results, study co-author Dr. Sara Poletti said:

“This is an important study as it provides a possible explanation for the higher prevalence of metabolic and age-related diseases in patients with mental illness. Understanding the mechanisms underlying accelerated biological aging may be crucial for the development of prevention and specific treatments to address the increasing challenges of integrated management of these disorders.”

SOURCE:

– NeuroscienceNews. (27.03.2023). Bodies of People With Mental Illness Are Biologically Older Than Their Actual Age.

The post Psychiatric Disorders and Biological Age first appeared on Necip Yurddas.

Preventive and rehabilitative services are not at the desired level

Mental health problems can occur as a result of a variety of biological and environmental factors. Many factors such as genetic predisposition, personality traits, traumas, war, economic difficulties and environmental problems can cause mental distress and health problems in people. Today, mental health services in Turkey are mostly treatment-oriented. Preventive and rehabilitative services are not provided at the desired level throughout the country due to the low number of professional workers and inadequate preventive in-service training. Studies show that 5 of the 10 diseases that most frequently cause disability and premature death in the world are psychiatric disorders (depression, schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder, alcoholism and compulsive disorders). Today, one in every four people experiences one or more mental and behavioral problems throughout their lives.

Stress and difficulties in living conditions trigger depression

Depression is the most common mental illness today. In fact, depression can be defined as the ‘common cold’ of psychiatric disorders in today’s Turkey, where emotions are experienced very intensely. Clinical depression is a mood disorder characterized by unhappiness, weakness and decreased activation that occupy daily life. When it becomes persistent, the feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness that are felt can prevent a person from doing work, studying and having fun. Depression is most common between the ages of 18-30 and 45-65. Studies show that both depression and anxiety are more common in the lives of urban people and that the rate of mental illness in women is twice as high as in men. People being more aware of their illnesses, the difficulties in today’s living conditions and stress are also seen as the reasons for the increase in mental illnesses in Turkey.

Genetic and biological predispositions are important

Today, depression and anxiety disorders are among the most common problems for which antidepressants are used. It is not right to evaluate daily temporary emotional changes as depression and anxiety disorders and to use medication based on hearsay. Treatment of mental illnesses should definitely be evaluated by experts, and a personalized treatment should be planned by an expert, taking into account genetic and biological predispositions. On the other hand, those who feel helpless about their psychological state may want to overcome this situation by using alcohol or substances. These approaches, which create a false sense of well-being, make the symptoms worse.

Early diagnosis and treatments bring the individual back to life

In many countries of the world and in our country, ‘stigmatization’ (stigmatization and isolation from society) regarding mental problems can cause hesitations in applying to psychiatry clinics and delay treatment. Therefore, psychiatric disorders should be handled with the same care and follow-up as physical illnesses. In addition to reducing triggering factors, developing a positive perspective on the environment in the field of mental health also increases social awareness regarding receiving psychological support. Early diagnosis and treatment facilitate the prevention of functional loss, progression of the disorder, risky behaviors and the individual’s regaining their social role.

The post 1 in 4 People Experience Mental and Behavioral Problems first appeared on Necip Yurddas.