TY - JOUR
T1 - Toxoplasma gondii and anxiety disorders in a community-based sample
AU - Markovitz, Adam A.
AU - Simanek, Amanda M.
AU - Yolken, Robert H.
AU - Galea, Sandro
AU - Koenen, Karestan C.
AU - Chen, Shu
AU - Aiello, Allison E.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 The Authors.
PY - 2015/1/1
Y1 - 2015/1/1
N2 - A growing body of literature suggests that exposure to the neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is associated with increased risk of mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia. However, a potential association between T. gondii exposure and anxiety disorders has not been rigorously explored. Here, we examine the association of T. gondii infection with both anxiety and mood disorders. Participants (n = 484) were drawn from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study, a population-representative sample of Detroit residents. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between T. gondii exposure (defined by seropositivity and IgG antibody levels) and three mental disorders: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. We found that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with a 2 times greater odds of GAD (odds ratio (OR), 2.25; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11-4.53) after adjusting for age, gender, race, income, marital status, and medication. Individuals in the highest antibody level category had more than 3 times higher odds of GAD (OR, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.41-7.97). Neither T. gondii seropositivity nor IgG antibody levels was significantly associated with PTSD or depression. Our findings indicate that T. gondii infection is strongly and significantly associated with GAD. While prospective confirmation is needed, T. gondii infection may play a role in the development of GAD.
AB - A growing body of literature suggests that exposure to the neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is associated with increased risk of mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia. However, a potential association between T. gondii exposure and anxiety disorders has not been rigorously explored. Here, we examine the association of T. gondii infection with both anxiety and mood disorders. Participants (n = 484) were drawn from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study, a population-representative sample of Detroit residents. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between T. gondii exposure (defined by seropositivity and IgG antibody levels) and three mental disorders: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. We found that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with a 2 times greater odds of GAD (odds ratio (OR), 2.25; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11-4.53) after adjusting for age, gender, race, income, marital status, and medication. Individuals in the highest antibody level category had more than 3 times higher odds of GAD (OR, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.41-7.97). Neither T. gondii seropositivity nor IgG antibody levels was significantly associated with PTSD or depression. Our findings indicate that T. gondii infection is strongly and significantly associated with GAD. While prospective confirmation is needed, T. gondii infection may play a role in the development of GAD.
KW - Depression
KW - Generalized anxiety disorder
KW - Infection
KW - Mental health
KW - PTSD
KW - Toxoplasma gondii
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84919390920&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84919390920&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.08.001
DO - 10.1016/j.bbi.2014.08.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 25124709
AN - SCOPUS:84919390920
SN - 0889-1591
VL - 43
SP - 192
EP - 197
JO - Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
JF - Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
ER -