Inflam-MH
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Inflammatory markers of developing youth mental health disorders
IRAS ID
240384
Contact name
Rachel Upthegrove
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
There is growing evidence for some effect of anti-inflammatory agent in severe mental illness, however their use and potential target biomarkers have not been explored in young people with developing mental health difficulties. Preliminary evidence suggests that young people exposed to adverse childhood events may have a primed pro-inflammatory state, mediated through HPA axis activation. However, previous research on peripheral inflammatory markers in mental illness is largely confounded by investigation in samples with established diagnosis, without consideration of the considerable heterogeneity of mental disorders and in samples with chronic illness on medication. Pharmacological treatments for depression and other mental health difficulties in young people are not effective for everyone, and can have significant side effects. New mechanisms for treatments are needed. It is possible that inflammation explains some of the commonality in biological findings across mood disorders, bipolar disorder and psychosis. This inflammation may be particularly relevant when the most active illness process is on-going i.e. during an early critical period.
The aim of the study is to assess pro and anti-inflammatory circulating blood markers in a large cohort of patients with first presentation mental health disorders. We will assess a range of presenting difficulties through questionnaires and obtain a blood sample. We aim to demonstrate that pro inflammatory cytokines will be raised trans-diagnostically and associated with illness severity, and elevated pro inflammatory cytokines will be associated with poor functioning and a history of previous traumatic experiences.
We are asking medication naive young people aged 14-25, presenting to mental health services, with any mental health disorder to take part in the study. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires, provide a blood sample and provide permission for the research team to access their medical notes at time of inclusion and 12-months later.REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/WM/0179
Date of REC Opinion
14 Aug 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion