Cellular Immunity to Varicella‐Zoster Virus in Patients with Major Depression

• DOI: 10.1086/514272
• Publication Date: 2008-01-04T13:46:13Z
• Authors: Michael Irwin; Carolyn Costlow; Heather Williams; Kamal Haydari Artin; Christina Y. Chan; Diane L. Stinson; Myron J. Levin; Anthony R. Hayward; Michael N. Oxman
• Keywords: Varicella zoster virus; Depression; Cellular immunity; Chicken Pox

The incidence of herpes zoster increases markedly with advancing age, and this appears to be causally related an age-dependent decline in varicella-zoster virus (VZV)—specific cellular immunity. Psychologic stress has also been linked the occurrence zoster, but mechanism involved not investigated. This study examined relationship between major depression VZV-specific immunity by comparing responder cell frequency (RCF) adults (n = 11) that age- sex-matched nondepressed controls a larger group who were ≥60 years old. RCF depressed patients was reduced compared matched (t 2.7, P < .02). In fact, levels comparable magnitude low found age. These data indicate is associated marked