Abstract
Background
Evidence suggests that elevated inflammation levels in depressed patients are associated with higher prevalence of somatic symptoms, such as fatigue. While the association between inflammation and fatigue is well established, existing studies often only use single items on depression scales to measure this multi-faceted trait. As a result, an in-depth assessment of this key inflammation-related symptom domain is currently lacking.
Methods
Using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, we investigated fatigue symptomatology in 84 patients meeting International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision criteria for current depressive episode. Participants were grouped as those with (CRP≥3mg/L) and without (CRP<3mg/L) evidence of inflammation.
Results
After adjusting for potential confounders, regression analyses showed that inflammation was associated with increased scores for total fatigue (adjusted mean difference=9.71; 95% CI, 3.09, 6.33; P<0.01), general fatigue (adjusted mean difference=1.82; 95% CI, 0.51, 3.13; P<0.01), and physical fatigue (adjusted mean difference=3.99; 95% CI, 1.99, 5.98; P<0.01). The group with inflammation also had significantly higher scores for mental fatigue (unadjusted mean difference=1.73; 95% CI, 0.32, 3.13), reduced motivation (unadjusted mean difference=1.76; 95% CI, 0.51, 3.01), and reduced activity (unadjusted mean difference=2.61; 95% CI, 0.82, 4.40) in the unadjusted analyses.
Conclusions
Our findings highlight that elevated CRP is associated with overall higher fatigue scores in depressed individuals, the domains of general and physical fatigue being most strongly associated with inflammation. Replication of these findings in larger samples is required.
Evidence suggests that elevated inflammation levels in depressed patients are associated with higher prevalence of somatic symptoms, such as fatigue. While the association between inflammation and fatigue is well established, existing studies often only use single items on depression scales to measure this multi-faceted trait. As a result, an in-depth assessment of this key inflammation-related symptom domain is currently lacking.
Methods
Using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, we investigated fatigue symptomatology in 84 patients meeting International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision criteria for current depressive episode. Participants were grouped as those with (CRP≥3mg/L) and without (CRP<3mg/L) evidence of inflammation.
Results
After adjusting for potential confounders, regression analyses showed that inflammation was associated with increased scores for total fatigue (adjusted mean difference=9.71; 95% CI, 3.09, 6.33; P<0.01), general fatigue (adjusted mean difference=1.82; 95% CI, 0.51, 3.13; P<0.01), and physical fatigue (adjusted mean difference=3.99; 95% CI, 1.99, 5.98; P<0.01). The group with inflammation also had significantly higher scores for mental fatigue (unadjusted mean difference=1.73; 95% CI, 0.32, 3.13), reduced motivation (unadjusted mean difference=1.76; 95% CI, 0.51, 3.01), and reduced activity (unadjusted mean difference=2.61; 95% CI, 0.82, 4.40) in the unadjusted analyses.
Conclusions
Our findings highlight that elevated CRP is associated with overall higher fatigue scores in depressed individuals, the domains of general and physical fatigue being most strongly associated with inflammation. Replication of these findings in larger samples is required.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Unpublished - 2021 |
| Event | 2021 Online British Association for Psychopharmacology Summer Meeting - Duration: 19 Jul 2021 → 21 Jul 2021 |
Conference
| Conference | 2021 Online British Association for Psychopharmacology Summer Meeting |
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| Abbreviated title | 2021 Online BAP Summer Meeting |
| Period | 19/07/21 → 21/07/21 |