Aggression and its correlation with plasma C-reactive protein levels in patients with schizophrenia: A hospital based cross-sectional study.

Abstract

The correlation between plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and aggression in schizophrenia has recently become an area of interest. As an acute phase reactant, neuro-immuno-modulatory and neurohumoral functions of CRP might have a role in understanding causation of aggression in disease and this may have implications in therapeutic intervention. To assess aggression and plasma CRP in patients with schizophrenia and to compare aggression in patients with normal and elevated CRP. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was carried out over a period of one year (2019-2020). Patients of schizophrenia as per International Classification of Diseases 10 were selected. Modified Overt Aggression Scale was applied, and plasma CRP levels were estimated in the selected patients. Mean aggression scores were compared in patients with normal and elevated CRP. And aggression scores were correlated with plasma CRP levels. Mean aggression score (22.93 ± 2.80) was significantly (P < .001) higher in patients with elevated CRP. There is a positive correlation (r = 0.855, P < .001) between aggression and plasma CRP. Patients with elevated CRP were more aggressive compared to the patients with normal CRP.