Immune Disorder Increases Chances of Developing Depression and Anxiety by Twofold
A groundbreaking study published in BMJ Mental Health has revealed a significant association between autoimmune diseases and persistent mental health issues, such as depression, generalized anxiety, and bipolar disorder. The research, which analysed data from over 1.5 million participants in the Our Future Health dataset from the UK, suggests that this link could be due to chronic inflammation.
The study found that the lifetime prevalence of any diagnosed affective disorder was significantly higher among people with an autoimmune disorder (29%) compared to the general population (18%). Moreover, the prevalence of affective disorders is significantly higher among women than it is among men with the same physical health conditions (32% compared to 21% among participants with any autoimmune disorder).
The study aimed to overcome limitations of previous studies by using a large sample size, and it found that chronic inflammation may underlie this connection. Six autoimmune conditions were included in the study: rheumatoid arthritis, Graves' syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis. The risk for each of the affective disorders is nearly twice as high in people with autoimmune conditions (87-97% higher).
The higher risk of persistent mental health issues in women with autoimmune diseases compared to men can be potentially explained by several biological and immunological factors. Differences in sex hormones (such as estrogen) and chromosomal factors might partly explain why autoimmune diseases and associated mental health problems are more prevalent in women than men. Women with depression have been found to exhibit increased concentrations of circulating cytokines and acute phase reactants—a sign of stronger inflammatory responses—compared to their non-depressed counterparts, a pattern not observed in men.
Since autoimmune diseases themselves are more common in women, the compounding challenges of having an autoimmune condition and stronger immune-mediated impacts on mental health might lead to a substantially increased prevalence of affective disorders such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder in women. The study also found that people with autoimmune conditions were more likely to report that their biological parents had affective disorders, suggesting a possible genetic or familial link that might interplay with sex differences in autoimmune and mental health risks.
Future studies should seek to determine whether putative biological, psychological, and social factors may represent potentially modifiable mechanisms linking autoimmune conditions and affective disorders. The study suggests that it may be worth regularly screening people diagnosed with autoimmune disease for mental health conditions, especially women, to provide them with tailored treatment early on. However, no direct measurements of inflammation were made, and it was therefore impossible to establish the presence, nature, timing, or severity of inflammation. Additionally, no information was available on the time or duration of illness, making it impossible to determine whether autoimmune conditions preceded, co-occurred with, or followed affective disorders.
In conclusion, the study provides compelling evidence for a link between autoimmune diseases and mental health issues, particularly in women. Further research is needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms and to develop strategies for early intervention and treatment.
- The groundbreaking study in BMJ Mental Health discovered a stronger association between autoimmune diseases and mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder in women.
- The study found that the lifetime prevalence of any diagnosed affective disorder is significantly higher among people with an autoimmune disorder, particularly in women compared to men.
- The research suggests that this link could be due to chronic inflammation, with autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, Graves' syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and psoriasis increasing the risk of affective disorders by nearly double.
- Differences in sex hormones and chromosomal factors might partly explain why autoimmune diseases and associated mental health problems are more prevalent in women.
- Women with depression have been found to exhibit increased concentrations of circulating cytokines and acute phase reactants, a sign of stronger inflammatory responses, which is not observed in men.
- Future research should aim to determine whether biological, psychological, and social factors may represent potentially modifiable mechanisms linking autoimmune conditions and affective disorders.
- The study suggests regular screening for mental health conditions for individuals diagnosed with autoimmune diseases, especially women, to provide them with early intervention and tailored treatment, although direct measurements of inflammation were not made in this study.
