Inflammation Linked with Poor Mental Health

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a commonly used marker of inflammation, and previous studies suggest that low-grade systemic inflammation may contribute to the development of mental health issues.  Marie Kim Wium-Andersen, from Copenhagen University Hospital (Denmark), and colleagues analyzed CRP levels using data from two general population studies in Copenhagen, which included 73,131 men and women ages 20 to 100 years.  Increasing CRP levels were associated with increasing risk for psychological distress and depression in analyses. Other analyses suggest that increasing CRP levels also were associated with increasing risk for hospitalization with depression, according to the study results.  The study authors conclude that: “Elevated levels of [C-reactive protein] are associated with increased risk for psychological distress and depression in the general population.”