title: Toxoplasma gondii and anxiety disorders in a community-based sample.
abstract: A growing body of literature suggests that exposure to the neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is associated with increased risk of mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia. However, a potential association between T. gondii exposure and anxiety disorders has not been rigorously explored. Here, we examine the association of T. gondii infection with both anxiety and mood disorders. Participants (n=484) were drawn from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study, a population-representative sample of Detroit residents. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between T. gondii exposure (defined by seropositivity and IgG antibody levels) and three mental disorders: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. We found that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with a 2 times greater odds of GAD (odds ratio (OR), 2.25; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11-4.53) after adjusting for age, gender, race, income, marital status, and medication. Individuals in the highest antibody level category had more than 3 times higher odds of GAD (OR, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.41-7.97). Neither T. gondii seropositivity nor IgG antibody levels was significantly associated with PTSD or depression. Our findings indicate that T. gondii infection is strongly and significantly associated with GAD. While prospective confirmation is needed, T. gondii infection may play a role in the development of GAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
authors.forename: Adam A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Markovitz
authors.affiliation: Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI 53201, United States.
authors.forename: Amanda M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Simanek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Stanley Division of Developmental Neurovirology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, United States.
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Yolken
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, United States.
authors.forename: Sandro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galea
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, United States.
authors.forename: Karestan C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Koenen
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States. Electronic address: aaiello@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Allison E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Aiello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014122:Toxoplasma; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: Depression; Generalized anxiety disorder; Infection; Mental health; PTSD; Toxoplasma gondii