Walsh Erin, Eisenlohr-Moul Tory, Baer Ruth
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
J Consult Clin Psychol. 2016 Oct;84(10):887-97. doi: 10.1037/ccp0000122. Epub 2016 Jun 9.
Pro-inflammatory cytokines have been implicated in the pathophysiology and maintenance of depression. This study investigated the effects of a brief mindfulness intervention on salivary pro-inflammatory correlates of depression (IL-6, TNF-α) and self-reported symptoms of depression in college women.
Sixty-four females with a cut score of ≥16 on the Center for Epidemiological Studies for Depression Scale (CES-D) were assigned to a 4-week mindfulness-based intervention (MBI; N = 31) or a contact-control group (N = 33). For both groups, salivary cytokines and depressive symptoms were assessed at baseline and posttreatment. For the mindfulness group only, salivary cytokines were also assessed at a 3-month follow-up.
Both groups showed similar reductions in depression. However, MBI (vs. control) predicted greater reductions in IL-6 and TNF-α; changes in IL-6 were sustained at 3-month follow-up. Higher baseline depressive symptoms predicted greater reductions in inflammation in the mindfulness group.
MBIs may reduce inflammatory immune markers commonly implicated in depression. Individuals with greater depressive symptoms may benefit more from mindfulness training. Although reductions in salivary cytokines in the mindfulness condition were not attributable to changes in depressive symptoms, future work should examine the possibility that such reductions are protective against the development of future depressive episodes. (PsycINFO Database Record
促炎细胞因子与抑郁症的病理生理学及病情维持有关。本研究调查了简短正念干预对大学女生唾液中与抑郁症相关的促炎因子（白细胞介素-6、肿瘤坏死因子-α）及自我报告的抑郁症状的影响。
64名在流行病学研究中心抑郁量表（CES-D）上得分≥16的女性被分配到为期4周的基于正念的干预组（MBI；N = 31）或接触对照组（N = 33）。两组均在基线和治疗后评估唾液细胞因子和抑郁症状。仅对正念组在3个月随访时也评估唾液细胞因子。
两组的抑郁症状均有类似程度的减轻。然而，MBI组（与对照组相比）白细胞介素-6和肿瘤坏死因子-α的降低幅度更大；白细胞介素-6的变化在3个月随访时持续存在。正念组中，基线抑郁症状越高，炎症减轻幅度越大。
基于正念的干预可能会降低通常与抑郁症相关的炎症免疫标志物水平。抑郁症状较重的个体可能从正念训练中获益更多。尽管正念组唾液细胞因子的降低并非归因于抑郁症状的变化，但未来的研究应探讨这种降低是否对预防未来抑郁发作具有保护作用。（《心理学文摘数据库记录》
