Efficacy of IV immunoglobulins on depressive symptoms and self-injury: A case report

Abstract

Introduction

Some studies in literature highlight the correlation between immune-mediated inflammatory processes and psychiatric pathologies. However, there are few studies about the efficacy of IV immunoglobulins in psychiatric features (1). (1) ZUNSZAIN, Patricia A.; HEPGUL, Nilay; PARIANTE, Carmine M. Inflammation and depression. In: Behavioral neurobiology of depression and its treatment. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2012. p. 135-151.

Objectives

Case report: a 39 year patient diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and myasthenia was hospitalized for self-injury ideation, acting out and depressive episode treated with acid valproic, aripiprazole, gabapentin; flare-up of myasthenia that needed treatment.

Methods

Clinical and test evaluation was performed in three stages: before (t0), immediately after (t1) and 3 weeks after (t2) the administration of the IgEV without other treatment modifications. We have used: - Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS) - Barrat Impulsiveness Scale, Version 11 (BIS-11) - Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) - Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) - Alexian Brothers Urge to Selfe-Injure Scale (ABUSI)

Results

The patient has a score of 79 at BIS-11. She used to have a huge number of acting aout as we see on ISAS (Fig.1).Figure 1Figure 2

Conclusions

We observed a reduction in non-suicidal self-injurious ideation, the suspension of acting-out, a complete remission of depressive symptoms with mild persistence of anxious symptoms immediately after the administration of immunoglobulins, and the remission continue until one month after the administration (Fig.2).

Disclosure

No significant relationships.