The NPR (12/5, Chatterjee) “Shots” blog reports investigators “have traced a connection between some infections and mental illnesses like schizophrenia, depression and bipolar disorder.” Findings published online Dec. 5 in JAMA Psychiatry reveal that “a wide variety of infections, even common ones like bronchitis, are linked to a higher risk of many mental illnesses in children and adolescents.” The study team arrived at this conclusion after gathering “data on hospitalizations and prescription medications for the 1.1 million children born in Denmark between Jan. 1, 1995, and June 30, 2012.”
According to MedPage Today (12/5, Hlavinka), “the relationship was a dose-response association, with children who had more infections and more severe infections having a higher risk of developing a mental disorder.” In addition, the risk was greatest “between zero to three months after the infection, researchers found.” The authors of an accompanying editorial “wrote that the study was ‘compelling’ and ‘strongly supports’ the assumption that severe infection and the use of anti-infective agents may result in the onset of mental illness.” Also covering the study are HealthDay (12/5, Reinberg) and Healio (12/5, Demko).
Related Links:
— “Infections May Raise The Risk Of Mental Illness In Children, “Rhitu Chatterjee, Healio, December 05, 2018.