Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Έγκαιρη Παρέμβαση στην ΨύχωσηLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Supervisors info:
Νίκος Στεφανής, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Πέτρος Λέκκος, Επιστημονικός Συνεργάτης, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Λήδα - Άλκηστις Ξενάκη, Επιστημονική Συνεργάτης, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Επίπεδα δεικτών φλεγμονής στο πρώτο ψυχωσικό επεισόδιο και διερεύνηση συσχέτισης με την κλίμακα PANSS
Translated title:
Levels of inflammation markers in first psychotic episode and correlation with PANSS score
Summary:
OBJECTIVE: Several studies link inflammation to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders. The aim of the present study is to explore the possible association between three inflammation markers and symptom severity in patients with a first psychotic episode and minimal exposure to antipsychotic treatment in a sample from Greek population. The inflammation markers determined were C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β).
METHODS: Data from the longitudinal cohort study Athens First-Episode Psychosis Research Study were extracted. In order to measure symptom severity, the weighted Greek version of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) was used. CRP levels were examined using chemiluminescence immunoassay and TNF-α and IL-1β levels were determined using ELISA. Adjustment was made with confounding factors of age, sex and BMI.
RESULTS: A positive correlation was found between CRP and the total score of the PANSS scale and all its subscales. In addition, we reported a negative correlation between TNF-α and the negative subscale of the PANSS scale and a negative correlation between IL-1β and the negative subscale, the general psychopathology scale and the total score of the PANSS scale. Complementary results of the study include a statistically significant decrease in the scores of all subscales and the total score of the PANSS scale one month after the patients entered the study, as well as a statistically significant decrease in the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β values. No statistically significant difference was observed between CRP levels at follow-up one month later.
CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study highlight the complexity of the relationship between certain markers of inflammation and symptom severity in patients with a first psychotic episode. Despite the prevailing notion that cytokines play an aggravating role in psychiatric disorders, our results emphasize the pleiotropic effect of the cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Inflammation markers, CRP, TNF-α, IL-1β, First psychotic episode, PANSS scale
Number of references:
102
