Positive association between Toxoplasma gondii IgG serointensity and current dysphoria/hopelessness scores in the Old Order Amish: a preliminary study

Autor: Wadhawan Abhishek, Dagdag Aline, Duffy Allyson, Daue Melanie L., Ryan Kathy A., Brenner Lisa A., Stiller John W., Pollin Toni I., Groer Maureen W., Huang Xuemei, Lowry Christopher A., Mitchell Braxton D., Postolache Teodor T.
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2017
Předmět:
Zdroj: Pteridines, Vol 28, Iss 3-4, Pp 185-194 (2017)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 0933-4807
2195-4720
DOI: 10.1515/pterid-2017-0019
Popis: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) IgG seropositivity and serointensity have been previously associated with suicidal self-directed violence (SSDV). Although associations with unipolar depression have also been investigated, the results have been inconsistent, possibly as a consequence of high heterogeneity. We have now studied this association in a more homogeneous population, [that is (i.e.) Old Order Amish (OOA)] with previously reported high T. gondii seroprevalence. In 306 OOA with a mean age of 46.1±16.7 years, including 191 (62.4%) women in the Amish Wellness Study, we obtained both T. gondii IgG titers (by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]), and depression screening questionnaires (Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-9] [n=280] and PHQ-2 [n=26]). Associations between T. gondii IgG and dysphoria/hopelessness and anhedonia scores on depression screening questionnaires were analyzed using multivariable linear methods with adjustment for age and sex. Serointensity was associated with both current dysphoria/hopelessness (p=0.045) and current combined anhedonia and dysphoria/hopelessness (p=0.043), while associations with simple anhedonia and past/lifelong (rather than current) phenotypes were not significant. These results indicate the need for larger longitudinal studies to corroborate the association between dysphoria/hopelessness and T. gondii IgG-titers. Current hopelessness is a known risk factor for SSDV which responds particularly well to cognitive behavioral therapy, and may be a focused treatment target for T. gondii-positive individuals at high-risk for SSDV.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals
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