Bipolar Me

Over the years, I’ve heard all kinds of definitions and supposed causes for depression, from anger turned inward to double-jointedness. Many of these turned out, like these two, to be either questionable or outright bogus.

Now there is new information about what may be a factor in causing depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and indeed any diagnosed psychiatric disorder: inflammation. And there’s some science behind this theory.

Some have called the link between inflammation and mental illnesses “undeniable.” Others aren’t willing to go quite that far, saying rather that it “seems to be” a factor. Statistics seem to back this up. Roughly a quarter of people with major depression show increases in immune molecules that are associated with chronic inflammation. That’s far from saying that all people with depression also experience inflammation, or vice versa, however.

Even more intriguing, though, is that researchers have found that inflammation occurs before the depression sets in. Even childhood trauma, chronic low-level stress, and infections that are associated with inflammation are also implicated in treatment-resistant depression. Of course, they’re also associated with depression in general.

Brain chemicals aren’t entirely out of the picture either. Inflammatory proteins can reduce the levels of serotonin and dopamine in the brain and disrupt activity in areas of the brain associated with reward mechanisms. There’s also the possibility that inflammation and depression form a “loop” in which depression may increase inflammation and inflammation may have some causal effect in depression and other mental disorders.

So, what should you do if you think that inflammation might be a factor in your depression, bipolar, or schizophrenia? One option is to see a medical professional who can run tests to see if a connection between the two conditions is likely. It won’t be cheap. It involves specialized tests and assessments, as well as a doctor who knows something about the subject.

On the other hand, you can treat the inflammation with remedies that are known to have some effect. These include a change in diet, eliminating sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods; reducing the stress in your life, which is known to be associated with both inflammation and mental health issues; lessening indoor smoke inhalation, such as that produced by air freshener dispersers, incense, and candles; limiting alcohol consumption; increasing physical activity; and getting enough good sleep, including dealing with problems such as sleep apnea.

There are still many unknowns on the subject of inflammation and mental disorders. The reporting on the topic includes words like “may,” “might,” “associated with,” and “implicated,” which indicate that the link is not entirely solid so far. One article got the headline right (“How Inflammation Can Threaten Your Mental Health”), but then had a subhead that went the other way (Important breakthroughs promise new understandings and treatments”). Others asked questions that at least had some ambiguity (“which came first?,” “is there a connection?,” and “Could lowering inflammation treat depression?”).

I hate to end this post with a wishy-washy “Time will tell,” but honestly, that’s about the most I’m willing to say. That and “Follow the science.”