Childhood life events, immune activation and the development of mood and anxiety disorders: the TRAILS study

Abstract

The experience of childhood life events is associated with higher vulnerability to develop psychiatric disorders. One of the pathways suggested to lead to this vulnerability is activation of the immune system. The aim of this study is to find out whether the association between childhood life events and the development of mood and anxiety disorders is predicted by the activation of the immune system. This study was performed in TRAILS, a large prospective population cohort, from which a subgroup was selected (N=1084, 54.3% female, mean age 19.0 (s.d., 0.6)). Childhood life events before age 16 were assessed using questionnaires at age 12, 14, 16 and 19. Immune activation was assessed at age 16 by elevated high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and by levels of immunoglobulin G antibodies against the herpes viruses herpes simplex virus 1, cytomegalovirus and Epstein–Barr virus. At age 19, the presence of mood and anxiety disorders was determined using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview Version 3.0. Regression analyses were used to study the association between life events, the inflammatory markers and mental health. We found that childhood life events score was associated with risk of mood disorders (B=0.269, P<0.001) and anxiety disorders (B=0.129, P<0.001). Childhood life events score was marginally associated with elevated hsCRP (B=0.076, P=0.006), but not with the antibody levels. This was especially due to separation trauma (P=0.015) and sexual abuse (P=0.019). Associations lost significance after correcting for lifestyle factors such as body mass index and substance abuse (P=0.042). None of the inflammatory markers were associated with development of anxiety disorders or mood disorders. In conclusion, the life event scores predicted the development of anxiety disorders and mood disorders at age 19. Life event scores were associated with elevated hsCRP, which was partly explained by lifestyle factors. Elevated hsCRP was not associated with the development of psychiatric disorders at age 19.

Frequency of stressful life events and associations with mental health and general subjective health in the general population

“…Being newly widowed was related to depressive symptoms, whereas being newly divorced increased the risk of poor social support. There is also longitudinal evidence for life events related to the development of anxiety disorders (Jonker et al 2017). With reference to morbidity years, increased failure of successful aging was observed, especially after medical illness such as stroke (Kornerup et al 2010), respiratory system disease (Lietzén et al 2011), cancer (Lillberg et al 2003), diabetes and visceral adiposity (Mooy et al 2000).…”

Exposure to common infections and risk of suicide and self-harm: a longitudinal general population study

“…Interestingly, in one study, CMV seropositivity influenced mood disorders differentially among males and females, associating with carrying a lower risk of mood disorders in males [13]. Also, the association between mental health and HSV-1 and EBV [10,11,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] has been studied, with somewhat conflicting results.…”

Associations of nitric oxide with obesity and psychological traits among children and adolescents in Taiwan

“…In the aforementioned study, previous anxiety disorder was associated with increased levels of IL‐6 in the follow‐up evaluation . However, a study on childhood life events, immune activation and the development of mood and anxiety disorders indicated that inflammatory markers were not associated with the development of anxiety disorders or mood disorders . Therefore, inflammation may not fully explain the association between NO levels and anxiety.…”