The research is a federally funded systematic review and meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Psychiatry. The systematic review included 19 studies and the meta-analysis included 14. In total, researchers examined 19 clinical trials in which people with depression and high inflammation received various anti-inflammatory drugs or placebo for periods up to 12 weeks.
Across trials, anti-inflammatory treatments reduced depressive symptoms and eased anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure. The analysis also found no increase in serious side effects among people who received anti-inflammatory drugs.
Co-first author Annelise Madison, an assistant professor of clinical psychology and affiliate member of the University of Michigan Eisenberg Family Depression Center, said the finding could make the emerging field of immunopsychiatry more relevant. Immunopsychiatry studies connections between the immune system and mental health. The authors also noted that not selecting participants by inflammatory status could explain earlier mixed results.
Additional researchers from Harvard University and Emory University contributed to the work. Support came from the National Institute for Mental Health and several foundation and institutional grants.
Difficult words
- systematic review — Study that collects and compares many related studies.
- meta-analysis — A statistical summary combining results of studies.
- clinical trial — Research study that tests medical treatments on people.clinical trials
- anti-inflammatory — Drug or treatment that reduces body inflammation.
- anhedonia — A condition of not feeling any pleasure.
- placebo — An inactive substance given instead of medicine.
- immunopsychiatry — Study of links between immune system and mind.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How might the idea that inflammation affects depression change the way doctors treat patients?
- Would you want a doctor to check inflammation when diagnosing depression? Why or why not?
- What are possible benefits and concerns about using anti-inflammatory drugs for mental health?
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