Infections, Antibiotics, and Risk for Major Psychiatric Disorders

Basic research findings and clinical observations, buttressed by epidemiological data, suggest that inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of some severe psychiatric disorders. Using Danish national registry data from 1995 through 2013, investigators with industry funding conducted the first large-scale, population-based study on whether infectious diseases increase psychiatric risks.

Of 1,015,447 individuals born in 1985–2002 who redeemed primary-care prescriptions for infectious-disease treatment, 5759 subsequently had a first diagnosis or psychiatric contact for a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, and 13,044 had one for affective disorder (depression or bipolar disorder). Risks for schizophrenia or affective disorder were 37% and 64%…