Psychiatric
Research
Association of Primary Humoral Immunodeficiencies with Psychiatric Disorders & Suicidal Behavior & the Role of Autoimmune Diseases
A Swedish Database of 14 million individuals was studied to Discover the link between immune deficiency and mental health disorders
A collaboration between a Harvard PANDAS researcher and the Karolinska Institute of Sweden was carried out. Data was studied from more than 14 million individuals living in Sweden from January 1, 1973, through December 31, 2013. Those with Primary Immune Deficiency (PID) and 12 major mental health disorders including suicidality were studied.
The PID diagnosis was found in 8378 persons. Those with the strongest history of both PID and a known autoimmune disease had the highest likelihood of mental health issues of a wide variety, not only OCD. Women exposed to PID only, but not those exposed to autoimmune disease only, appeared particularly vulnerable. A total of 2780 siblings were compared as a control group as well to further explain susceptibility for PID and mental issues.
In short, the authors explain most PIDs affect antibodies and are associated with increased risk of recurrent infections as well as with a markedly increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases. Autoimmunity should continue to be studied in connection to psychiatric disease and the mechanisms underlying the association between PID. The mechanisms and psychiatric outcomes are complex but study should continue given the lifetime burden to families.
