Published online by Cambridge University Press: 23 March 2020
Recent studies reported an association between aggression and inflammation. In this study, we examined the association between aggressive behavior and inflammatory markers (serum levels of CRP) in schizophrenia inpatients.
Adult schizophrenia inpatients (n = 145) were prospectively identified and categorized according to their C-reactive protein measurement at admission as either elevated (CRP > 1 mg/dL; n = 45) or normal (CRP < 1 mg/dL; n = 100). The following indicators of aggression were compared: PANSS excitement component (PANSS-EC), restraints and suicidal behavior during hospitalization.
The results show that patients with elevated CRP levels are more aggressive during hospitalization as detected by statistically significant higher scores of aggressive behavior (PANSS-EC score), and by increased rates of physical restraint during hospitalization. No statistically significant differences in the other clinical features, including suicidal behavior.
Our results are consistent with previous findings linking schizophrenia to activation of the inflammatory response system.
The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.
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