High C-reactive protein levels are associated with depressive symptoms in schizophrenia.

M. Faugere, J.-A. Micoulaud-Franchi, C. Faget-Agius, C. Lançon, M. Cermolacce, R. Richieri
Journal of Affective Disorders. 2018-01-01; 225: 671-675
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.09.004

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1. J Affect Disord. 2018 Jan 1;225:671-675. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.09.004. Epub
2017 Sep 8.

High C-reactive protein levels are associated with depressive symptoms in
schizophrenia.

Faugere M(1), Micoulaud-Franchi JA(2), Faget-Agius C(3), Lançon C(3), Cermolacce
M(4), Richieri R(3).

Author information:
(1)Department of Psychiatry, La Conception University Hospital, 13005 Marseille,
France; EA 3279 – Self perceived Health Assessment Research Unit, Aix-Marseille
University, 13005, Marseille, France. Electronic address:
.
(2)Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Sleep Clinique, Pellegrin University
Hospital, 33076 Bordeaux, France; Bordeaux University, USR CNRS 3413 SANPSY,
Research Unit, 33000 Bordeaux, France.
(3)Department of Psychiatry, La Conception University Hospital, 13005 Marseille,
France; EA 3279 – Self perceived Health Assessment Research Unit, Aix-Marseille
University, 13005, Marseille, France.
(4)SHU Adult Psychiatry, Sainte Marguerite Hospital, 13274 Marseille Cedex 9,
France.

BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms are frequently associated with schizophrenia
symptoms. C – Reactive protein (CRP), a marker of chronic inflammation, had been
found elevated in patients with schizophrenia and in patients with depressive
symptoms. However, the association between CRP level and depressive symptoms has
been poorly investigated in patients with schizophrenia. The only study conducted
found an association between high CRP levels and antidepressant consumption, but
not with depressive symptoms investigated with the Calgary Depression Rating
Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS).
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate CRP levels and depressive
symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, and to determine whether high CRP levels
are associated with depressive symptoms and/or antidepressant consumption,
independently of potential confounding factors, especially tobacco-smoking and
metabolic syndrome.
METHODS: Three hundred and seven patients with schizophrenia were enrolled in
this study (mean age = 35.74 years, 69.1% male gender). Depressive symptoms was
investigated with the CDSS. Patients were classified in two groups: normal CRP
level (≤ 3.0mg/L) and high CRP level (> 3.0mg/L). Current medication was
recorded.
RESULTS: 124 subjects (40.4%) were classified in the high CRP level group. After
adjusting for confounding factors, these patients were found to have higher CDSS
scores than those with normal CRP levels in multivariate analyses (p = 0.035, OR
= 1.067, 95% CI = 1.004-1.132). No significant association between CRP levels and
antidepressants consumption was found.
LIMITATIONS: The size sample is relatively small. The cut-off point for high
cardiovascular risk was used to define the two groups. CRP was the sole marker of
inflammation in this study and was collected at only one time point. The design
of this study is cross-sectional and there are no conclusions about the
directionality of the association between depression and inflammation in
schizophrenia.
CONCLUSION: This study found an association between high rates of CRP levels and
depressive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, but no association with
antidepressant consumption. Further studies are needed to investigate the impact
of inflammation in schizophrenia.

Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.09.004
PMID: 28917193 [Indexed for MEDLINE]

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