The emerging role of C-reactive protein in affective and psychotic disorders

Background and objective C-reactive protein is a pentameric protein which is generated in the liver and secreted in the blood to play a central role in inflammation. The measurement of C-reactive protein in the blood provides a reliable marker of chronic inflammation caused by infectious and other inflammatory agents. Increased levels of C-reactive protein have been associated with chronic infections and inflammatory conditions as well as with increased risk of inflammatory cardiovascular disorders. The aim of this review is to elucidate the current facts and views about C-reactive protein in psychiatric disorders such as major depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Method MedLine and PsycInfo/Embase databases were search using as key-words C-reactive protein and each of DSM-IV mood and psychotic disorders to identify quality papers for reviewing. Results Several studies have examined the relationship between psychiatric disorders and C-reactive protein, but the majority of the studies in literature have been limited by retrospective, case-control study designs, and very few studies have examined the relationship between these disorders and C-reactive protein in large study samples (Tables I, III, IV). Conclusion In conclusion, the role of C-reactive protein in psychiatric disorders is, to date, intriguing, but somewhat unclear. Further prospective studies are needed to introduce C-reactive protein in clinical settings as a marker of psychopathological states.