The British Journal of Psychiatry (2006) 188: 449-452. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.105.011015
© 2006 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Antidepressant therapy and C-reactive protein levels

SINEAD M. O’BRIEN, MRCPsych, LUCINDA V. SCOTT, PhD, MRCPsych and TIMOTHY G. DINAN, MD, PhD, MRCPsych

Department of Psychiatry and Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre, University College Cork, Ireland

Correspondence: Professor Ted Dinan, Department of Psychiatry, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Cork, Ireland. Tel: +353 21 4920119; e-mail: t.dinan{at}ucc.ie

Declaration of interest T.G.D. has lectured at meetings sponsored by or acted as an advisor to all companies who market a branded SSRI.

Background Major depression is associated with activation of the inflammatory response.

Aims To examine C-reactive protein levels in depression and to determine the impact of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) therapy.

Method Atwo-part study. In study 1, which used a between-subjects design, C-reactive protein was measured in 32 patients (20 currently depressed, 12 euthymic) with a history of DSM–IV major depression, all of whom were treated with an SSRI, and in a healthy comparison group (n=20). Study 2 employed a within-subject design: C-reactive protein was measured in 20 patients with major depression both before and after SSRI treatment.

Results In study 1, C-reactive protein levels did not differ between the group with depressive disorder (either currently depressed or euthymic) treated with SSRIs and the healthy group.In study 2 the protein levels dropped significantly following treatment with antidepressant medication.

Conclusions Following SSRI treatment for major depression there is a significant drop in C-reactive protein concentrations whether or not the depression resolves. These findings indicate that antidepress-ants induce an anti-inflammatory response independent of antidepressant action.


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