1
|
Keaton SA, Arnetz J, Jamil H, Dhalimi A, Stemmer PM, Ruden DM, Yamin J, Achtyes E, Smart L, Brundin L, Arnetz BB. IL-10: A possible immunobiological component of positive mental health in refugees. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2021; 8:100097. [PMID: 35757662 PMCID: PMC9216633 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective As the number of refugees continues to rise, there is growing concern about the impact from trauma exposures on their mental health. However, there is a limited understanding of possible biological mechanisms contributing to the substantial inter-individual differences in trauma-related outcomes, especially as it relates to positive mental health. Only sparse work has focused on the biology of positive mental health, including energy and sleep, in trauma-exposed persons. In this study, we analyzed cytokines in blood from newly arrived refugees with differential trauma exposures in relationship to self-reported energy, as a key marker of positive mental health. Methods Within the first month of arrival in the USA, 64 refugees from Iraq and Syria were interviewed. Refugees completed the clinical DSM-IV PTSD-Checklist Civilian Version (PCL-C), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Ten psychiatrically healthy non-refugee persons were used as healthy controls to compare levels of cytokines. Blood samples were collected at the time of the interview and subsequently analyzed for IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α concentrations. Results Energy correlated positively with current concentration ability and sleep quality, and negatively with stress, PCL-C, BAI and HADS scores (Spearman correlations, all p<0.05). Refugees had lower levels of IL-10 compared to controls (p<0.05). IL-10 levels in refugees correlated with higher energy levels (p<0.01). Conclusions Results suggest that self-reported energy is a key component of positive mental health in newly arrived traumatized refugees. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 could be a marker of, or causally associated with positive mental health. A better understanding of the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory states in highly traumatized individuals has the potential to create more targeted and effective treatments with implications for long-term health outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A. Keaton
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Judy Arnetz
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Hikmet Jamil
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Abir Dhalimi
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Paul M. Stemmer
- Institute of Environmental Health Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Douglas M. Ruden
- Institute of Environmental Health Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jolin Yamin
- Institute of Environmental Health Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Eric Achtyes
- Pine Rest Christian Mental Health, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Division of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - LeAnn Smart
- Pine Rest Christian Mental Health, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Lena Brundin
- Center for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Division of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Bengt B. Arnetz
- Department of Family Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rigutto C, Sapara AO, Agyapong VIO. Anxiety, Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder after Terrorist Attacks: A General Review of the Literature. Behav Sci (Basel) 2021; 11:bs11100140. [PMID: 34677233 PMCID: PMC8533613 DOI: 10.3390/bs11100140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Terrorism, though not well-defined, is a violent act that has been shown to have longstanding effects on the mental health of those who witness it. The aim of this general literature review is to explore the effect that terrorism has on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder (MDD) and anxiety disorders, as well as the bio-psycho-social determinants that mediate its impact. This paper describes the prevalence, risk factors, protective factors, common presentations and interventions identified for PTSD, depression and anxiety disorders occurring following terrorist attacks. We conducted a literature search in MEDLINE using a number of keywords detailed below. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, we kept 80 articles, which we summarized in tabular form. A majority of articles found detailed the impact of terrorism on PTSD, and took place in a Western, mainly American setting. The main factors that impacted the presentation of mental illness include gender, ethnicity, social supports, socioeconomic status, level of preparedness, level of exposure, pre-existing trauma and mental illness, and subsequent life stressors. The main intervention detailed in this article as showing evidence post-terrorism is trauma-focused cognitive-behavioural therapy. This study highlights the importance of this topic, and in particular, its implications for public health policy and practice.
Collapse
|
3
|
Schwartz E, Litwin H. Warfare exposure in later life and cognitive function: The moderating role of social connectedness. Psychiatry Res 2019; 278:258-262. [PMID: 31233936 PMCID: PMC6620122 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the influence of warfare exposure on older adults' cognitive functioning and explored the protective role of social connectedness. The study used cross-sectional data from the Israeli component of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE-Israel) collected in 2015. We focused on a composite scale of social connectedness and on the exposure to war-related events during the 2014 Israel-Gaza conflict. Social connectedness and warfare exposure were used to predict three indicators of cognitive functioning. The results showed that warfare exposure was related to worse cognitive functioning, after controlling for socio-demographic and health covariates. However, social connectedness moderated this association. Persons who were highly connected did not suffer from worse cognitive functioning in recall (immediate and delayed) following warfare-related events and their fluency score increased. The results suggest that experiencing war-related events is associated with poorer cognitive functioning, but social connectedness moderates the strength of the negative association. These findings can inform intervention initiatives for adults exposed to warfare events, encouraging them to strengthen their social connections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ella Schwartz
- Israel Gerontological Data Center, Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus 91905, Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Howard Litwin
- Israel Gerontological Data Center, Paul Baerwald School of Social Work and Social Welfare, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mount Scopus 91905, Jerusalem, Israel
| |
Collapse
|