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Psychosocial and Immunological Factors in Neurasthenia

Received November 22, 2006; revised May 29, 2007; accepted June 18, 2007. From the Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; the Dept. of Psychology, New School for Social Research, New York, NY, USA; and the Mental Health Institute, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. Send correspondence and reprint requests to YaLin Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., Mental Health Institute of Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 139 Renmin Middle Rd., Changsha, Hunan, China 410011. e-mail: zhangYL69{at}vip.sina.com.cn
© 2009 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine

BACKGROUND: Neurasthenia is a disorder whose pathogenesis is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to examine the relationships between neurasthenia and possible psychosocial and immunological correlates. METHOD: A sample of 30 Chinese neurasthenic patients was compared with a matched sample of 30 control subjects for 1) the level of serum Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) gamma G immunoglobulin (IgG) and gamma M immunoglobulin (IgM); 2) scores on the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ); 3) the Symptom Checklist–90; and 4) the Life Event Scale (LES); 27 of the 30 neurasthenia patients were treated with medication and psychotherapy for a 4-month period, with measures taken pre- and posttreatment. RESULTS: As compared with the control group, neurasthenic patients exhibited higher EPQ scores for neuroticism, higher levels of introversion, and a higher number of negative life events. Within the neurasthenia sample, scores for neuroticism and the SCL–90 Global Severity Index were significantly lower at follow-up than at baseline. CONCLUSION: As compared with control subjects, neurasthenia patients were characterized by greater neuroticism and introversion, and they reported a higher rate of negative life events. Moreover, the positive rate of EBV in neurasthenic patients was higher, which may be associated with higher EBV activation under states of stress.

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