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- Title
Original Research The response of mucosal immunity to stress faced by Lithuanian soldiers as a consequence of deployment to Afghanistan.
- Authors
Kvietkauskaite, Raimonda; Vaicaitiene, Ramute; Girkontaite, Irute; Labeikyte, Danute
- Abstract
Objective: The responses of immune system to psychological stress are highly diverse. This study was designated to clarify the stress experienced by servicemen of the Provincial Reconstruction Team of Lithuanian Armed Forces as a response to changed job conditions (deployment to Afghanistan). Also we sought to determine the relationship between documented changes in salivary immunoglobulin (IgA, IgM and IgG) level and psychological stress. Methods: Special questionnaires covering state of health and strain experienced in association with deployment and psychotraumatic events were constructed using Symptom Check List SCL- 90 and Peacekeepers Impact of Events Scale PIES-R. Quantitative detection of immunoglobulin was performed by sandwich ELISA. Nonparametric statistics were used to compare the distribution of immunoglobulin. Results: Secretory immunoglobulin A (S-IgA) was the only class of immunoglobulin sensitive to psychological stress associated with the deployment. Comparison of the medians before and after military mission demonstrated an increased amount of S-IgA after the deployment when general stress level was reduced. The amount of stress resistant individuals rose from 34% before the deployment to 77% after it. Chi-square test of independence indicated statistically significant relationship between the stress and S-IgA amount. Four separate psychotraumatic events experienced during the deployment was not associated with S-IgA distribution, but combined psychological variables revealed statistically significant (p>0.05) relationship with S-IgA distribution. Any relation between health parameters and stress experienced was not found. Conclusions: The mucosal immunity responds to stressful circumstances on the job (peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan) by variation in salivary S-IgA amount without manifestation of clinical symptoms. A deeper understanding of the response to stress can assist in finding strategies to overcome the inherent psychological challenges associated with specific professions.
- Publication
Balkan Military Medical Review, 2014, Vol 17, Issue 3, p75
- ISSN
1107-6275
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.5455/bmmr.163247