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Infectious and immunogenetic factors in bipolar disorder
Author(s) -
Oliveira J.,
OliveiraMaia A. J.,
Tamouza R.,
Brown A. S.,
Leboyer M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1111/acps.12791
Subject(s) - bipolar disorder , genetic predisposition , vulnerability (computing) , immunology , immune system , pathogen , biology , medicine , psychiatry , genetics , cognition , computer security , computer science , gene
Objective Despite the evidence supporting the association between infection and bipolar disorder ( BD ), the genetic vulnerability that mediates its effects has yet to be clarified. A genetic origin for the immune imbalance observed in BD , possibly involved in the mechanisms of pathogen escape, has, however, been suggested in recent studies. Method Here, we present a critical review based on a systematic literature search of articles published until December 2016 on the association between BD and infectious/immunogenetic factors. Results We provide evidence suggesting that infectious insults could act as triggers of maladaptive immune responses in BD and that immunogenetic vulnerability may amplify the effects of such environmental risk factors, increasing susceptibility to subsequent environmental encounters. Quality of evidence was generally impaired by scarce attempt of replication, small sample sizes and lack of high‐quality environmental measures. Conclusion Infection has emerged as a potential preventable cause of morbidity in BD , urging the need to better investigate components of the host–pathogen interaction in patients and at‐risk subjects, and thus opening the way to novel therapeutic opportunities.