title: The serum level of C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with cognitive performance in acute phase psychosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammatory processes have been implicated in the etiology of schizophrenia and related psychoses, in which cognitive deficits represent core symptoms. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible associations between the level of the inflammation marker C-reactive protein (CRP) and cognitive performance in patients through the acute phase of psychosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 124 patients were assessed at admittance to hospital and 62 patients were retested at discharge or after 6 weeks at the latest, with measurements of the CRP levels and alternative forms of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an inverse relationship between overall cognitive performance and CRP level at admittance. The association increased in sub-analyses including only patients with schizophrenia. In cognitive subdomain analyses statistically significant inverse associations were found between the CRP level and Delayed memory and Attention, respectively. No associations were found between CRP level and other measures of psychopathology including psychosis symptoms, depression, or functioning. At follow-up the association between CRP level and cognition was no longer present. There was a significant increase in cognitive performance between baseline and follow-up. There was a stronger increase in overall cognition scores in patients with higher baseline CRP levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicate that signs of inflammation may serve as a state-dependent marker of cognitive dysfunctions in acute psychosis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov ID; NCT00932529 , registration date: 02.07.2009.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. erij@ihelse.net.|Department of Clinical Medicine, Section Psychiatry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. erij@ihelse.net.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Johnsen
authors.affiliation: NKS Olaviken Gerontopsychiatric Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Farivar
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fathian
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.|Department of Clinical Medicine, Section Psychiatry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Rune A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Kroken
authors.affiliation: NORMENT and KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.|Dr. Einar Martens Research Group for Biological Psychiatry, Center for Medical Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Vidar M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Steen
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Section Psychiatry, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Hugo A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Jørgensen
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gjestad
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.|Department of Addiction Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.
authors.forename: Else-Marie
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Løberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: CRP; Cognition; Inflammation; Schizophrenia