PTSD patients show increasing cytokine levels during treatment despite reduced psychological distress (2018 - Helge Toft et al)

Study from Norway on 124 patients with a mixed psychiatric population of whom 39 diagnosed with PTSD. Paper is published in the journal Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment

PTSD patients show increasing cytokine levels during treatment despite reduced psychological distress

Results: Overall level of IL-1RA was higher in PTSD patients when compared to those without PTSD (P=0.021). The level of IL-1β, MCP-1, and TNF-α increased over time in PTSD compared to non-PTSD patients (P=0.025, P=0.011 and P=0.008, respectively). All patients experienced reduced mental distress as measured by self-reported Global Severity Index scores. Stratified analysis showed that PTSD patients who used anti-inflammatory drugs had higher levels of IL-1β (P=0.007) and TNF-α (P=0.049) than PTSD patients who did not use such drugs.

Conclusion: The study indicates that traumatized patients may have a distinct neuroimmune development during recovery. Their activated immune system shows even further activation during their rehabilitation despite symptom reduction.

 

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Self reported measures for symptoms.

So why conclude parients got better in spite of biological markers got worse...?

Wouldn't a more valid conclusion be that self reported measures in open trials where treatment is based on patients tackling their illness - can't be trusted....?