Elsevier

Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

Volume 107, January 2023, Pages 414-418
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

Short Communication
Depressive symptoms predict antibody titers after a second dose of the SARS-CoV-2 BNT162b2 vaccine among hospital workers in Japan

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2022.09.004Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Depressive symptoms predicted lower antibody titers after COVID-19 vaccination.

  • Body temperature as a side effect was a positive predictor for antibody responses.

  • Alcohol intake could be a negative factor for antibody responses of COVID-19 vaccine.

  • Poor health check-up results were related to lower antibody titers after vaccination.

  • Longer duration from second dose to blood sampling resulted in weaker antibody responses.

Abstract

Background

Although factors associated with the antibody response to the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine have been reported, psychological factors have not been examined. Depression or anxiety may affect vaccine reactions because these factors influence immune responses. This study aimed to determine whether psychological status at the time of vaccination predicts antibody responses.

Methods

A prospective observational study of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine response was carried out among individuals attending for an annual health check-up. Participants included 78 volunteers out of 80 hospital workers in Nagoya, Japan. No participants had been infected with COVID-19 and all gave written informed consent to participate in the study. Blood samples were obtained approximately 28 days after the second dose of the vaccine, and antibody titers of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein were determined using the SARS-CoV-2 IgG II Quant assay. Participants completed the Japanese version of the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) questionnaire, one day before both vaccinations. Participants also recorded any adverse reactions, such as body temperature and other side effects, every day for two weeks after each dose. The relationships between antibody titers and the predictive factors were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis, with the antibody titers as the dependent variables, followed by univariate analysis.

Results

Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that no or excessive alcohol intake (p = 0.039), poor results from a health check-up (p = 0.011), a longer duration between the second dose and blood collection (p = 0.039), and increased degree of depressive symptoms (p = 0.041) were significant negative predictors of antibody titers, while body temperature one day after the second dose as a significant positive predictor of antibody titers (p < 0.0005).

Conclusion

We identified that depressive symptoms just before the second dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 were an independent negative predictor of antibody responses, in addition to other factors. Our results highlight the importance of mental health at the time of vaccination to achieve the higher antibody responses necessary to acquire humoral immunity.

Keywords

Antibody response
Anxiety
BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine
COVID-19
Depression
Health care worker
Japan
Psychological factor
Vaccination

Data availability

The authors are unable or have chosen not to specify which data has been used.

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