THE ROLE OF INFLAMMATION IN DEPRESSION: A LINK BETWEEN PSYCHIATRY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE

ANA KHVEDELIDZE

doi:10.52340/jecm.2025.02.20

THE ROLE OF INFLAMMATION IN DEPRESSION: A LINK BETWEEN PSYCHIATRY AND INTERNAL MEDICINE

Authors

ANA KHVEDELIDZE Tbilisi State Medical University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52340/jecm.2025.02.20

Keywords:

Inflammation, Depression, Psychiatry, Internal Medicine

Abstract

Depression, a leading cause of disability worldwide, is increasingly recognized as having a significant inflammatory component, bridging psychiatry and internal medicine. This review synthesizes recent evidence on the role of inflammation in depression, focusing on studies from 2020 to 2025.

A literature search was conducted using PubMed and other databases, selecting comparative studies and meta-analyses published between 2020 and 2025 that investigate the relationship between inflammation and depression in human populations.

Prospective studies indicate that elevated inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count (WBC), predict new onset depression, with gender-specific effects (stronger in men). Meta-analyses confirm significant elevations in inflammatory markers (e.g., CRP, IL-6, TNF-α) in depressed patients compared to controls, with reduced variability suggesting a consistent inflammatory state. Longitudinal studies show that interleukin-6 (IL-6) is associated with both current and future depressive symptoms, though the directionality remains complex.

Inflammation appears to play a critical role in the pathophysiology of depression, offering novel treatment avenues, such as anti-inflammatory therapies and lifestyle interventions. These findings underscore the importance of interdisciplinary approaches between psychiatry and internal medicine to enhance patient outcomes.

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Author Biography

ANA KHVEDELIDZE, Tbilisi State Medical University

Tbilisi State Medical University, American MD program, Georgia

References

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