Title:Inflammation and Mental Health Disorders: Immunomodulation as a Potential
Therapy for Psychiatric Conditions
Volume: 29
Issue: 36
Author(s): Hanieh Safari*Shohreh Mashayekhan
Affiliation:
- Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
Keywords:
Immunomodulation, schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, mental health disorders.
Abstract: Mood disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide and their incidence has significantly
increased after the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the continuous surge in the number of people diagnosed
with psychiatric disorders, the treatment methods for these conditions remain limited. A significant number of
people either do not respond to therapy or discontinue the drugs due to their severe side effects. Therefore, alternative
therapeutic interventions are needed. Previous studies have shown a correlation between immunological
alterations and the occurrence of mental health disorders, yet immunomodulatory therapies have been barely
investigated for combating psychiatric conditions. In this article, we have reviewed the immunological alterations
that occur during the onset of mental health disorders, including microglial activation, an increased number
of circulating innate immune cells, reduced activity of natural killer cells, altered T cell morphology and
functionality, and an increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This article also examines key studies
that demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of anti-inflammatory medications in mental health disorders. These
studies suggest that immunomodulation can potentially be used as a complementary therapy for controlling
psychiatric conditions after careful screening of candidate drugs and consideration of their efficacy and side effects
in clinical trials.