The Relationships of Neurobiological and Immune Variables in Patients with Epilepsy: The Role of Alexithymia
https://doi.org/10.30629/2618-6667-2021-19-2-55-62
Abstract
Objective: to study the relationship between neurobiological, immune parameters and alexithymia in patients with epilepsy.
Material and methods: 58 patients with epilepsy (26 men, 32 women) were studied. Temporal epilepsy was diagnosed in 25, frontal — in 16, and frontal-temporal — in 17 patients. The frequency and type of seizures, duration of remission, severity of seizures, level of alexithymia, and parameters of immunity analyzed. To assess the relationships, the analysis of variance MANOVA is used.
Results: the influence of alexithymia and immunological factors CD4+ , CD4+ /CD8+ and CD8+ on the frequency of complex focal seizures (CFS) was revealed. With high CD4+ , CD4+ /CD8+ values and low CD8+ values, the CFS frequency increases, which has an unfavorable prognostic value. The combination of alexithymia and right temporal focus also led to an increase in the frequency and severity of CFS. Statistically signifi cant correlations were found between the alexithymia and the intensity of immunity (CD4+ / CD8+ ).
Conclusions: the results obtained support the hypothesis of the so-called innate immune mechanisms of alexithymia. Determination of the level of alexithymia can be used to predict the course of epilepsy.
About the Authors
V. V. Kalinin
Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry — the Branch of V. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology under the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Vladimir V. Kalinin, MD, PhD, Dr. of Sci. (Med.), Head of the Department
Moscow
A. A. Zemlyanaya
Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry — the Branch of V. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology under the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Anna A. Zemlyanaya, MD, PhD, Cand. of Sci. (Med.)
Moscow
K. Y. Subbotin
Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry — the Branch of V. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology under the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Kirill Y. Subbotin, Psychiatrist
Moscow
L. V. Sokolova
Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry — the Branch of V. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology under the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Liudmila V. Sokolova, MD, PhD, Cand. of Sci. (Med.), Psychiatrist
Moscow
E. A. Fedorenko
Moscow Research Institute of Psychiatry — the Branch of V. Serbsky Federal Medical Research Centre of Psychiatry and Narcology under the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Ekaterina A. Fedorenko, Researcher
Moscow
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Review
For citations:
Kalinin V.V., Zemlyanaya A.A., Subbotin K.Y., Sokolova L.V., Fedorenko E.A. The Relationships of Neurobiological and Immune Variables in Patients with Epilepsy: The Role of Alexithymia. Psychiatry (Moscow) (Psikhiatriya). 2021;19(2):55–62. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30629/2618-6667-2021-19-2-55-62
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