In a study of more than 7 million hospitalized people followed from 1980 to 2011, researchers at the Grand Rapid Center for Neurodegenerative Science in the United States found that patients hospitalized with serious infections such as HIV Where hepatitishad a 42% greater risk of dying from suicide than patients without a serious infection.
Although this study published in the Jamaica psychiatry could not demonstrate a real causal link, the researchers discovered than one in 10 suicides was related to a serious infection. They believe that this increased risk of suicide is not only due to the psychological impact of the disease. But that there would be a biological cause: the infection would cause inflammation in the brain, creating the symptoms of a depression.
Towards the search for biomarkers to discover patients at risk
“Most severe infections can cause general inflammation but also affect neuron function in ways that trigger a specific behavioral response. It is this response that leads to the behavior or ideation of suicide” emphasizes Professor Lena Brundin, lead author of the study. “Additional research will be needed in the future to highlight biomarkers that will help indicate which patients are at risk and improve treatment options for those most vulnerable”.
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