Dissociative symptoms reflect levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha in patients with unipolar depression

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic and biometric characteristics of the studied population

	Depressed patients (n=66)
Male:female	21:45
Age in years (mean ± SD; min, max)	43.1 (±7.3; 18, 60)
Education
Elementary	5
Higher	50
University	11
BMI (mean ± SD; min, max)	25.4 (±5.13; 18, 40.6)

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; max, maximum; min, minimum; SD, standard deviation.

Table 2 Drug treatment in the studied population

	Number of patients	Percentage of patients (%)	Dosage in mg (mean ± SD; min, max)
Unmedicated	3	4.5
Medicated
One antidepressant	48	72.7
Two antidepressants	15	22.7
Antidepressant treatment
Amitriptyline	2	3	140
Dibenzepin	3	4.5	500 ± 242.5; 240, 720
Trazodone	6	9.1	227 ± 160.8; 50, 300
Moclobemide	1	1.5	900
Fluvoxamine	1	1.5	100
Fluoxetine	1	1.5	40
Sertraline	16	24.2	109 ± 55.4; 25, 200
Citalopram	14	21.2	41 ± 10.7; 20, 60
Paroxetine	1	1.5	60
Escitalopram	6	9.1	19 ± 8.4; 10, 30
Venlafaxine	7	10.6	184 ± 71.9; 150, 300
Mirtazapine	17	25.8	43 ± 9; 30, 60
Milnacipran	3	4.5	167 ± 55.7; 100, 200

Abbreviations: max, maximum; min, minimum; SD, standard deviation.

Figure 1 Dependency graph of TNF-α (pg/mL) and DES (Spearman R=−0.36, P<0.01).

Abbreviations: DES, Dissociative Experiences Scale; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha.

Figure 2 Dependency graph of TNF-α (pg/mL) and SDQ-20 (Spearman R=−0.30, P<0.05).

Abbreviations: SDQ, Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha.

Table 3 Spearman correlations of TNF-α and results of psychometric measures

	TNF-α	BDI-II	TSC-40	DES
BDI-II	−0.04	–	–	–
TSC-40	−0.41**	0.43**	–	–
DES	−0.42**	0.29*	0.60**	–
SDQ-20	−0.38**	0.34**	0.68**	0.69**

Notes:

* P<0.05;

** P<0.01.

Abbreviations: BDI, Beck Depression Inventory; DES, Dissociative Experiences Scale; SDQ, Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha; TSC, Trauma Symptom Checklist.