Associations Between Non-Neurological Autoimmune Disorders and Psychosis: A Meta-Analysis

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: A relationship between non-neurological autoimmune (NNAI) disorders and psychosis has been widely reported, but not yet subjected to meta-analysis. We conducted the first meta-analysis examining the association between NNAI disorders and psychosis, and investigated the effect of (a) temporality (as determined by study design), (b) psychiatric diagnosis, and (c) specific autoimmune disorders. METHODS: Major databases were searched for articles published until April 2018. Thirty-one studies, comprising data for >25 million individuals, were eligible. Using random effects models, we examined the overall association between all NNAI disorders and psychosis, rheumatoid arthritis was examined separately given the well-established negative association with psychosis. Stratified analyses investigated the effect of temporality, psychiatric diagnosis, and specific NNAI disorders. RESULTS: We observed a positive, overall association between NNAI disorders and psychosis (odds ratio = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.12 - 1.41) that was consistent across study designs and psychiatric diagnoses; however, considerable heterogeneity was detected (I2 = 88.09). Patterns varied across individual NNAI disorders; associations were positive for pernicious anaemia (1.91; 1.29 - 2.84), pemphigoid (1.90; 1.62 - 2.24), psoriasis (1.70; 1.51 - 1.91), coeliac disease (1.53; 1.12 - 2.10), and Graves’ disease (1.33; 1.03 - 1.72), and negative for ankylosing spondylitis (0.72; 0.54 - 0.98) and rheumatoid arthritis (0.65; 0.50 - 0.84). CONCLUSIONS: Whilst we observed a positive, overall association between NNAI disorders and psychosis, this was not consistent across all NNAI disorders. Specific factors, including distinct inflammatory pathways, genetic influences, autoantibodies targeting brain proteins, or exposure to corticosteroid treatment, may therefore underlie this association.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)35-48
Number of pages14
JournalBiological psychiatry
Volume85
Issue number1
Early online date28 Jun 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2019

Keywords

  • Autoimmune
  • Epidemiology
  • Inflammation
  • Meta-analysis
  • Psychosis
  • Schizophrenia

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