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Association between childhood trauma exposure and pro-inflammatory cytokines in schizophrenia and bipolar-I disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 December 2018

Yann Quidé*
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
Chiara C. Bortolasci
Affiliation:
Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
Briana Spolding
Affiliation:
Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
Srisaiyini Kidnapillai
Affiliation:
Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
Oliver J. Watkeys
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
Sarah Cohen-Woods
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
Michael Berk
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia Florey Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia Deakin University, Impact Strategic Research Centre, Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia
Vaughan J. Carr
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
Ken Walder
Affiliation:
Centre for Molecular and Medical Research, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
Melissa J. Green
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Yann Quidé, E-mail: y.quide@unsw.edu.au; yannquide@gmail.com

Abstract

Background

Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are consistently reported in schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar-I disorder (BD), as well as among individuals who have been exposed to childhood trauma. However, higher levels of inflammatory markers in these disorders are yet to be investigated with respect to levels of exposure to different types of childhood trauma.

Methods

Participants were 68 cases with a diagnosis of schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (SZ), 69 cases with a diagnosis of psychotic BD and 72 healthy controls (HC). Serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were quantified, and childhood trauma exposure was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire.

Results

The SZ group had significantly higher levels of IL-6, TNF-α and CRP when compared with the HC group (all p < 0.05, d = 0.41–0.63), as well as higher levels of TNF-α when compared with the BD group (p = 0.014, d = 0.50); there were no differences between the BD and HC groups for any markers. Exposure to sexual abuse was positively associated (standardised β = 0.326, t = 2.459, p = 0.018) with levels of CRP in the SZ group, but there were no significant associations between any form of trauma exposure and cytokine levels in the HC or BD groups.

Conclusions

These results contribute to the evidence for a chronic state of inflammation in SZ but not BD cases. Differential associations between trauma exposure and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines across the diagnostic categories suggest that trauma may impact biological (stress and immune) systems differently in these patient groups.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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