C-reactive protein levels and cognitive functions in patients with bipolar I disorder

Abstract

Background In the previous studies, the relevance of inflammatory processes to disorders of the brain and body may serve as an important touchstone for increasing integration of psychiatry and medicine. Until recently, few studies had examined the potential role of inflammation in bipolar I disorder. We aimed at comparing C-reactive protein (CRP) serum levels as a marker of systemic inflammation between bipolar disorder (BD) patients in different affective phases and matched healthy controls and investigating the possible effects of CRP elevations on the cognitive impairment in BD remitted patients group. Methods Forty-two patients with bipolar I disorder subdivided into (manic, depressive, full remitted) groups were examined. We measured the circulating levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), The results were compared with 42 age- and sex-matched healthy control, Then the neuropsychological function for the full remitted group only was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) test and examine the correlation between the neuropsychological function and hs-CRP levels in this group. Results It showed that hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in BD patients than healthy controls. By comparing each group (manic, depressed and remitted) separately with healthy controls, the difference was still statistically highly significant ( P P P >0.05). Conclusion Our finding adds to the growing evidence that inflammation has a role in mood disorders psychopathology.