Relationship between depression and inflammation

Depression is one of the deadliest diseases in the world, as the WHO admits. Up to billions of people suffer from depression at least once in their life, and it causes enormous financial damages. Anti-depressive medications are used to treat depression. But only one-third of patients respond to the first drug, while about 40% become treatment-resistant.

Recently, an experiment with mice suggested that inflammative reaction could cause depression. It was observed that some cytokines were released in the brain tissues of mice after exposing stress. Cytokines are known as a marker of inflammation.

Forbes: Could Depression Be An Immune Response To Stress? A New Study Suggests An Answer

This finding suggests that some kinds of depression occur as a result of an excessive inflammatory reaction in the brain. If true, anti-inflammatory treatment may be a solution to overcome depression.

To be honest, the hypothesis indicating the relationship between depression and inflammation has been discussed for several decades. Fever is often reported in the acute depressive state. And some patients get depressed immediately after infection. Though I am not sure, there might be some studies conducted to treat depressive disorders with anti-inflammatory drugs.

Also, as the author of the article above writes, not all depressions are stress-induced. Some patients feel depressed without preceding stressful events. In my sense, such patients respond to medication well.

Anyway, it is great that new findings are reported regarding depression. I expect research in this region will progress more.