67. Aggressive and impulsive personality traits and inflammatory markers in cerebrospinal fluid and serum: Are they interconnected?

Abstract

Background: Accumulating evidence supports an intricate relationship between central nervous system inflammation, stress and personality. There are, however, few studies addressing this relationship in non-psychiatric populations. Objective: To investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and personality traits reflecting impulsivity, aggression and self-regulation, respectively, in patients about to go through peripheral surgery. Methods: 35 patients undergoing knee arthroplastics had CSF and serum samples drawn before surgery. These samples were analyzed for cytokine and cortisol concentrations. Before arriving at the hospital, 26 subjects had filled in one or both of two personality assessment questionnaires: the Temperament and Character Inventory and the Karolinska Scales of Personality. Results: A significant positive correlation was found between Verbal Aggression and CSF IL-10, while Novelty Seeking was negatively correlated with CSF cortisol. Inhibited Aggression was negatively correlated with CSF Il-10, while Self-directedness was negatively correlated to serum concentrations of IL-10 and interferon-gamma. Conclusion: Levels of some biomarkers related to inflammatory activation co-varied with personality traits related to impulsivity, aggression and, inversely, self-regulation and behavioural control, in this non-psychiatric study group. Correlations were overall modest and about equal for serum and CSF concentrations of the biomarkers. Further studies are warranted given the limited statistical power of the present small study group.