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Inflammation, cognitive dysfunction, and suicidal ideation among patients with major depression

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 August 2021

Mao-Hsuan Huang Open the ORCID record for Mao-Hsuan Huang [Opens in a new window] ,
Mu-Hong Chen Open the ORCID record for Mu-Hong Chen [Opens in a new window] ,
Ju-Wei Hsu ,
Kai-Lin Huang ,
Shih-Jen Tsai ,
Tung-Ping Su  and
Ya-Mei Bai
Mao-Hsuan Huang
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, YuanShan and Suao Branches of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Ilan, Taiwan Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Mu-Hong Chen*
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Ju-Wei Hsu
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Kai-Lin Huang
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Shih-Jen Tsai
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Tung-Ping Su
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Psychiatry, General Cheng Hsin Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
Ya-Mei Bai*
Affiliation:
Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan Institute of Brain Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
*
* Authors for correspondence: Mu-Hong Chen, MD, PhD Email: [email protected] Ya-Mei Bai, MD, PhD Email: [email protected]
* Authors for correspondence: Mu-Hong Chen, MD, PhD Email: [email protected] Ya-Mei Bai, MD, PhD Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Background

Dysregulated proinflammatory cytokines have been shown to be associated with suicidal behavior. Cognitive deficits in working memory and inhibitory control have been demonstrated in depressed patients and people with suicidal ideation (SI). However, the association between proinflammatory cytokines, SI, and cognitive deficits in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) remains unclear.

Methods

A total of 77 patients with MDD and age-/sex-matched 60 healthy individuals were recruited. MDD patients were divided into two groups: with SI (n = 36) and no SI (n = 41). SI was defined by a score of ≥2 in item 3 of the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including soluble interleukin-6 receptor, soluble tumor necrosis factor-α receptor type 1, and C-reactive protein (CRP), were measured, and cognitive function was assessed using 2-back task and Go/No-Go task.

Results

Patients with SI had higher levels of CRP than those without SI and controls (P = .007). CRP was positively associated with SI (β = 0.21, P = .037), independent of cognitive function and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, SI was associated with cognitive deficits in working memory and inhibitory control after adjusting for confounding factors (P < .05).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that higher levels of serum CRP and deficits in working memory and inhibitory control may be associated with higher SI among patients with MDD.

Keywords

C-reactive proteincytokinesmajor depressive disordersuicidesuicidal ideation
Type
Original Research
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 27 , Issue 6 , December 2022 , pp. 724 - 730
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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