title: Toxoplasma gondii infection and self-directed violence in mothers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two studies based on clinical samples have found an association between Toxoplasma gondii infection and history of suicide attempt. To our knowledge, these findings have never been replicated in a prospective cohort study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether T gondii–infected mothers have an increased risk of self-directed violence, violent suicide attempts, and suicide and whether the risk depends on the level of T gondii IgG antibodies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Register-based prospective cohort study. Women were followed up from the date of delivery, 1992 to 1995 until 2006.
  
  
  METHODS
  Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of 45 788 women born in Denmark whose level of Toxoplasma-specific IgG antibodies was measured in connection with child birth between 1992 and 1995.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incidence rates of self-directed violence, violent suicide attempts, and suicide in relation to T gondii seropositivity and serointensity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  T gondii–infected mothers had a relative risk of self-directed violence of 1.53 (95% CI, 1.27-1.85) compared with noninfected mothers, and the risk seemed to increase with increasing IgG antibody level. For violent suicide attempts, the relative risk was 1.81 (95% CI, 1.13-2.84) and for suicide, 2.05 (95% CI, 0.78-5.20). A similar association was found for repetition of self-directed violence, with a relative risk of 1.54 (95% CI, 0.98-2.39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with a T gondii infection have an increased risk of self-directed violence.
authors: Department of Economics and Business, National Centre for Register-Based Research, Aarhus University, Denmark. mgp@ncrr.dk
authors: Marianne G
authors: MG
authors: Pedersen
authors: Preben Bo
authors: PB
authors: Mortensen
authors: Bent
authors: B
authors: Norgaard-Pedersen
authors: Teodor T
authors: TT
authors: Postolache
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012042:Registries; D012306:Risk; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G