Common laboratory measures of global health may not be suited to assess, discriminate or predict chronic stress effects on biological systems
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Common laboratory measures of global health may not be suited to assess, discriminate or predict chronic stress effects on biological systems. / Brünahl, Christian; Linden, Michael.
In: NORD J PSYCHIAT, Vol. 65, No. 4, 01.09.2011, p. 266-8.Research output: SCORING: Contribution to journal › SCORING: Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Common laboratory measures of global health may not be suited to assess, discriminate or predict chronic stress effects on biological systems
AU - Brünahl, Christian
AU - Linden, Michael
PY - 2011/9/1
Y1 - 2011/9/1
N2 - BACKGROUND: There is a longstanding discussion that prolonged psychological stress can have negative somatic effects, especially in respect to endocrinological and immunological changes. Yet, the clinical significance of these findings is still unclear. Patients with prolonged stress should show more signs and symptoms of related illnesses.AIM: The question we like to answer in this study is: are laboratory measures of global health suited to assess, discriminate or predict chronic psychological stress effects on biological systems?METHODS: Included were 50 inpatients who were suffering from post-traumatic embitterment disorder (PTED), a condition that causes persistent and intense psychological distress. They were compared with a group of 50 matched control patients with unselected psychosomatic disorders but no immediate stress and strain. Gender distribution and age were the same in both samples because of the matching (60% women; mean age: 49 years). PTED patients had an average duration of illness of 31.7 (±35.5) months. In the SCL-90 they showed an average GSI score of 1.13 (±0.55) compared with 0.74 (±0.50) in the controls, as indicator of their increased psychological strain. Between groups, we compared the results of 24 laboratory tests, which can be seen as indicators of functioning of all important body systems. Results: There was no significant difference in the results of laboratory tests between groups and especially no indicators for different rates of immunological or inflammatory illnesses.CONCLUSION: Laboratory measures of global health may not be suited to assess, discriminate or predict psychological chronic stress effects on important biological systems.
AB - BACKGROUND: There is a longstanding discussion that prolonged psychological stress can have negative somatic effects, especially in respect to endocrinological and immunological changes. Yet, the clinical significance of these findings is still unclear. Patients with prolonged stress should show more signs and symptoms of related illnesses.AIM: The question we like to answer in this study is: are laboratory measures of global health suited to assess, discriminate or predict chronic psychological stress effects on biological systems?METHODS: Included were 50 inpatients who were suffering from post-traumatic embitterment disorder (PTED), a condition that causes persistent and intense psychological distress. They were compared with a group of 50 matched control patients with unselected psychosomatic disorders but no immediate stress and strain. Gender distribution and age were the same in both samples because of the matching (60% women; mean age: 49 years). PTED patients had an average duration of illness of 31.7 (±35.5) months. In the SCL-90 they showed an average GSI score of 1.13 (±0.55) compared with 0.74 (±0.50) in the controls, as indicator of their increased psychological strain. Between groups, we compared the results of 24 laboratory tests, which can be seen as indicators of functioning of all important body systems. Results: There was no significant difference in the results of laboratory tests between groups and especially no indicators for different rates of immunological or inflammatory illnesses.CONCLUSION: Laboratory measures of global health may not be suited to assess, discriminate or predict psychological chronic stress effects on important biological systems.
KW - Biological Markers
KW - Case-Control Studies
KW - Female
KW - Health Status Indicators
KW - Health Surveys
KW - Humans
KW - Inpatients
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Predictive Value of Tests
KW - Psychophysiologic Disorders
KW - Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
KW - Stress, Psychological
U2 - 10.3109/08039488.2010.542589
DO - 10.3109/08039488.2010.542589
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 21142646
VL - 65
SP - 266
EP - 268
JO - NORD J PSYCHIAT
JF - NORD J PSYCHIAT
SN - 0803-9488
IS - 4
ER -