Serum concentrations of TNF-a and its soluble receptors during psychotherapy in German soldiers suffering from combat-related PTSD

Serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured in German soldiers with PTSD receiving EMDR or clinical management.

Article Abstract

“Background: Changes in serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and its soluble receptors (sTNF-R) p55 and p75 have been shown to be associated with various psychiatric treatments.

Subjects and methods: Before and after treatment, serum levels of TNF-α, sTNF-R p55 and sTNF-R p75 were measured in 38 German soldiers who had been deployed abroad and suffered from combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Patients were randomized either to inpatient psychotherapy (N=21) including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) or to outpatient clinical management (N=17). Symptoms of PTSD were measured using the Post-traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS).

Results: The PDS score significantly decreased across time in both groups. Serum concentrations of TNF-α increased, while sTNF-R p55 and sTNF-R p75 levels decreased significantly. After the treatment period, we could not detect any significant difference regarding TNF-α, sTNF-R p55 or sTNF-R p75 levels between the inpatient psychotherapy group and the outpatient clinical management control group.

Conclusions: This relatively small clinical study suggests that specific inpatient psychotherapy but also non-specific supportive outpatient treatment for PTSD are associated with changes in the TNF-α system. This may represent an immunological effects or side effects of psychotherapy.”

—Description from publisher

Article Access

Open Access

Himmerich, H., Willmund, G. D., Zimmermann, P., Wolf, J.-E., Buhler, A. H., Kirkby, K. C., Dalton, B., Holdt, L. M., Teupser, D., & Wesemann, U. (2016). Serum concentrations of TNF-a and its soluble receptors during psychotherapy in German soldiers suffering from combat-related PTSD. Psychiatria Danubina, 28(3), 293-298. https://www.psychiatria-danubina.com/UserDocsImages/pdf/dnb_vol28_no3/dnb_vol28_no3_293.pdf