The Link Between C-Reactive Protein Levels and Mood Disorders: A Retrospective Study Reveals Insights
A retrospective study examined C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in individuals with unipolar and bipolar depression. The study found that higher CRP levels were associated with longer illness duration, earlier age of onset, and an eveningness chronotype. Lower body mass index was linked to lower levels of a specific type of CRP, while high blood pressure and abnormal blood fat levels were associated with higher levels of this CRP. The findings suggest a potential role for CRP in the development of conditions like high blood pressure and highlight the importance of considering neuroinflammatory patterns in grouping depressed patients for more targeted treatment approaches. However, the study's limitations include a moderate sample size and the inability to establish causal relationships or track changes over time. Further research is needed to explore the relationship between CRP levels and mood disorders.