{"title":"From tradition to evidence: exploring the neurochemical basis of medicinal plants in anxiety therapy.","authors":"Acharya Balkrishna, Upasana Agarwal, Deepika Arya, Sonia Chaudhary, Vedpriya Arya","doi":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2527338","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2527338","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Anxiety disorders are associated with dysfunction in key neurotransmitter systems like, GABAergic, serotonergic, dopaminergic, noradrenergic, and endocannabinoid, alongside oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity. Conventional pharmacotherapies offer symptomatic relief but often cause adverse effects and dependency. This review explores medicinal plants as alternative anxiolytic agents due to their multi-targeted mechanisms of action.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The review analyzes medicinal plants traditionally used for anxiety relief, focusing on their bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, and polyphenols. Mechanisms of action evaluated include GABA-A receptor activation, serotonergic modulation, neuroendocrine regulation, and antioxidant activity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Bioactive compounds from medicinal plants demonstrate anxiolytic effects through modulation of neurotransmitters, reduction of cortisol levels, and regulation of neuropeptides such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Additionally, several phytochemicals enhance endocannabinoid signaling, supporting their role in anxiety management.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Medicinal plants offer promising potential as alternative treatments for anxiety disorders by targeting multiple neurochemical and neuroendocrine pathways. However, challenges such as standardization, pharmacokinetic variability, and lack of clinical validation must be addressed. Future research should prioritize optimized formulations and large-scale clinical trials to ensure efficacy and safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":49358,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Biological Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"371-408"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144638571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Batagianni, Andreas Papazoglou, Panagis Galiatsatos, Dimitrios Linos
{"title":"Assessing the relationship of gut microbiota with neurological, psychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders: a narrative review.","authors":"Maria Batagianni, Andreas Papazoglou, Panagis Galiatsatos, Dimitrios Linos","doi":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2530750","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2530750","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication network regulated by the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems, microbial metabolites, and environmental factors such as diet, stress, circadian rhythm, and drugs/chemicals. This review aims to examine current literature on the link between gut microbiota dysbiosis and major brain disorders, and to explore strategies for improving patient outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This narrative (non-systematic) review investigated the association between gut microbiota dysbiosis and psychiatric (schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, eating disorders), neurological (autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, epilepsy, migraine), and neurodegenerative disorders (Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis). It also considered potential microbiota- and neuroprotective interventions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The existing body of evidence consistently links gut dysbiosis with neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions through mechanisms including inflammation, impaired intestinal barriers, microbial production of neurotransmitters or toxins, and accumulation of α-synuclein or amyloid affecting neurogenesis and myelination. Balanced dietary patterns and the use of probiotics, prebiotics, or fermented foods are associated with healthier gut microbiota and improved neurological function.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Further research is needed to clarify whether gut dysbiosis causes or contributes to these disorders, and to develop evidence-based, gut-focused practical recommendations for their prevention and management.</p>","PeriodicalId":49358,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Biological Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"409-421"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144651016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Camille Verebi, Nicolas Lebrun, Philibert Duriez, Bertrand Diebold, Natacha Gaitch, Philip Gorwood, Nicolas Ramoz, Thierry Bienvenu
{"title":"Involvement of the brain orexin system in a familial form of anorexia nervosa.","authors":"Camille Verebi, Nicolas Lebrun, Philibert Duriez, Bertrand Diebold, Natacha Gaitch, Philip Gorwood, Nicolas Ramoz, Thierry Bienvenu","doi":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2537947","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2537947","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a debilitating eating disorder. To date, very few genes have been identified that predispose to AN.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>An alternative to association studies is the characterisation of ultra-rare variants in familial forms of AN.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Here, we use this approach to identify molecular pathways that contribute to the development of AN by analysing one family with two members suffering from AN by trio whole-exome analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We identified an ultra-rare deleterious variant c.199 + 2T > G in the <i>HCRTR1</i> gene in the two affected females in the family. The <i>in vitro</i> minigene assay confirmed that c.199 + 2T > C resulted in exon 3 skipping, leading to the loss of the start initiation codon.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This <i>HCRTR1</i> gene, known to be involved in the regulation of feeding and physical activity, and already implicated in the reward pathway, may play a predisposing role in AN, at least in familial forms.</p><p><strong>Core tip: </strong>Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a debilitating eating disorder. To date, only a few genes have been identified as predisposing to AN. The <i>HCRTR1</i> gene is known to be involved in the regulation of feeding and physical activity. The identification of a rare loss-of-function variant in <i>HCRTR1</i> strongly suggests that the orexin pathway may be involved in the predisposition to anorexia nervosa.</p>","PeriodicalId":49358,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Biological Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"359-370"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144776736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ruchika Kaushik, Sujata Satapathy, Baibaswata Nayak, Chittaranjan Behera
{"title":"Integrating psychological autopsy and cytokine gene polymorphisms to elucidate suicide risk: an Indian population study.","authors":"Ruchika Kaushik, Sujata Satapathy, Baibaswata Nayak, Chittaranjan Behera","doi":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2528231","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2528231","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Emerging evidence suggests that neuroinflammation may contribute to suicidal behaviour by altering immune responses and neural-pathways. Polymorphisms in cytokine gene promoter regions have been previously associated with depression and suicidal behaviour. Psychological autopsy is a thorough investigation method to investigate suicide. To date, there is no reported association study linking psychological autopsy outcomes with inflammatory markers. This cross-sectional post-mortem study aimed to investigate the relationship between psychosocial behaviour and inflammatory genetic patterns.</p><p><strong>Material and methods: </strong>The Comprehensive Psychological Autopsy: Structured Interview Schedule was used to gather psychosocial data of suicide completers (<i>n</i>=234), and genotyping of polymorphic sites in the promoter regions of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α genes was done.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our study found a consistent correlation between risk genotypes of all the understudy SNPs with the negative social behaviours. In linear regression analysis, IL-6(-174G/C) demonstrated a protective effect across emotional and negative behavioural traits, whereas TNF-α(-308G/A) was associated with the general behaviour domain.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Although it cannot be generalised at this point, the findings of this study highlight a definite pattern of correlation between genetic-psychosocial and behavioural descriptions of suicide completers, also backed by linear regression models. The findings can be further tested rigorously to confirm worldwide.</p>","PeriodicalId":49358,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Biological Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"336-345"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144638572","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Grace Mealy, Sofia Hempelmann Perez, Kiva Brennan, Sophie Callanan, Radka Saldova, David Groeger, Douwe Van Sinderen, Paul D Cotter, Sarah L Doyle, Fionnuala M McAuliffe
{"title":"Stress and depression risk in pregnancy associates with altered immune function.","authors":"Grace Mealy, Sofia Hempelmann Perez, Kiva Brennan, Sophie Callanan, Radka Saldova, David Groeger, Douwe Van Sinderen, Paul D Cotter, Sarah L Doyle, Fionnuala M McAuliffe","doi":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2530000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15622975.2025.2530000","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Psychological factors such as well-being, stress, and depression can influence immune function, with dysregulated inflammation during pregnancy contributing to adverse outcomes. While the role of inflammatory markers has been studied in pregnancy complications like preterm birth and preeclampsia, few studies explore how psychological states impact cellular and serum immune responses in pregnant women. In this study, we investigated associations between psychological factors and inflammatory markers from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum in early and late pregnancy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This secondary analysis of 70 pregnant women from the MicrobeMom2 RCT investigated associations between psychological factors and inflammatory markers from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum in early and late pregnancy. Wellbeing, stress, and depression risk were assessed using the WHO-5 Well-being Index, Perceived Stress Questionnaire, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Associations between immune markers and psychological factors were analysed using independent t-tests, ANOVA, and linear regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Higher well-being correlated with lower leptin levels in late pregnancy serum. Higher stress scores were associated with decreased PBMC-secreted TNF-α in early pregnancy. Increased depression risk was associated with lower serum TNF-α and ICAM1 in early pregnancy and reduced IL17A in late pregnancy.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Well-being, stress, and depression risk are associated with an altered immune response during early and late pregnancy, which may contribute to the relationship between suboptimal psychological states and adverse pregnancy outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":49358,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Biological Psychiatry","volume":"26 8","pages":"346-358"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145193523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jiahui Wen, Feng Zhang, Guan Cheng, Cheng Liu, Yan Zhang
{"title":"Schizophrenia may be a risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and primary ovarian insufficiency (POI): A Mendelian randomisation study.","authors":"Jiahui Wen, Feng Zhang, Guan Cheng, Cheng Liu, Yan Zhang","doi":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2555173","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15622975.2025.2555173","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) are significant causes of female infertility. Women with schizophrenia exhibit reduced fertility, and existing research indicates associations between schizophrenia and PCOS, though causality remains uncertain. Furthermore, the relationship between schizophrenia and POI has not been elucidated.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study utilised Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC) database and European populations (schizophrenia: <i>n</i> = 127,906; PCOS: 642 cases, 118,228 controls; POI: 254 cases, 1,182,288 controls). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genome-wide significance were selected as instrumental variables (IVs). Various sensitivity analyses were employed to validate the causality between schizophrenia and PCOS/POI.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Schizophrenia increased the risk of PCOS (OR= 1.070, 95% CI: 1.024 to 1.119, <i>p</i> = 0.002), and had a potential causal relationship with POI (OR= 1.316, 95% CI: 1.011 to 1.713, <i>p</i> = 0.041). These results were robust in sensitivity analysis, with no heterogeneity or pleiotropy detected.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These results reveal the potential mechanisms underlying reduced fertility in schizophrenia and provide a novel perspective on the link between psychiatry and reproductive endocrinology, motivating further investigation. Meanwhile, this study underscores the clinical imperative for enhanced surveillance of ovarian function and timely fertility assessment in patients to optimise outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":49358,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Biological Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145082220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"From local activity to effective connectivity: neuroimaging evidence of functional abnormalities in the inferior occipital gyrus in obsessive-compulsive disorder.","authors":"Shuaiqi Zhang, Pei Liu, Ningning Ding, Yangyang Liu, Zixuan Liu, Xiaolei Ji, Lingmin Xie, Tengyue Zhang, Zhaoxi Zhong, Yuchun Li, Haisan Zhang","doi":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2556848","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15622975.2025.2556848","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Existing studies on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) typically use single imaging metrics or resting-state functional connectivity, limiting insight into the directional brain information flow.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Imaging data for 93 OCD patients and 96 healthy controls (HC) were analysed. Between-group differences in fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) identified common discrepant brain regions, used as seed points for whole-brain effective connectivity (EC) analysis <i>via</i> granger causality.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared to HC, patients with OCD exhibited reduced fALFF in the left inferior occipital gyrus (L_IOG) and postcentral gyrus, elevated fALFF in the left caudate nucleus, and reduced ReHo in the L_IOG and right calcarine sulcus. EC from the right caudate nucleus to the L_IOG was attenuated, while that from the right supramarginal gyrus to the L_IOG was enhanced. Furthermore, diminished connectivity was observed from the L_IOG to the right middle frontal gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, and postcentral gyrus (R_PoCG). Among them, fALFF value of the L_IOG and its EC value to the R_PoCG were positively correlated with OCD symptom severity.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The L_IOG may function as a pivotal integrative node spanning sensorimotor and executive control networks, contributing to the pathological mechanisms of OCD.</p>","PeriodicalId":49358,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Biological Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145066094","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exosomal miR-24-3p participates in the progression of depression by regulating neuronal damage and blood-brain barrier dysfunction.","authors":"Shoufen Yu, Xueyuan Yu, Junchang Liu, Muzhen Guan, Zhongheng Wang, Xiaosa Li","doi":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2522794","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2522794","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is essential for maintaining normal brain function and is involved in the progression of major depressive disorder (MDD). This study investigated the abnormal expression and regulatory role of miR-24-3p in neuronal injury and BBB dysfunction during MDD pathogenesis.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The expression of miR-24-3p was examined in serum samples from patients with MDD and from chronic unpredictable mild stress and lipopolysaccharide mouse models, as well as in hippocampal tissue from mice. A loss-of-function assay was conducted to explore the role of miR-24-3p in brain injury, assessing neuronal cell viability, apoptosis, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and astrocyte activation. Exosomes were then isolated to evaluate the regulatory role and function of miR-24-3p in BBB dysfunction. Behavioural tests were performed to assess depressive-like behaviours in mice.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>miR-24-3p was significantly upregulated in MDD samples. Inhibiting miR-24-3p suppressed LPS-induced neuronal apoptosis and inflammation, while promoting the secretion of neurofunctional factors. Further analysis revealed that inhibiting exosomal miR-24-3p alleviated depressive-like behaviour in MDD model mice, reduced BBB permeability, and improved BBB function.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>miR-24-3p inhibition attenuated neuronal damage, reduced astrocyte activation, and enhanced BBB stability through exosome-mediated regulation, thereby alleviating neurobehavioural abnormalities and the progression of MDD.</p>","PeriodicalId":49358,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Biological Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"303-312"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144545818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Long-term effects of melatonin on individuals with depressive, anxiety, or bipolar disorder: a scoping review.","authors":"Németh Emma, Detraux Johan, Sienaert Pascal","doi":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2526643","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2526643","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Melatonin emerged as a new potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders. Existing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have predominantly focused on the immediate effects of melatonin, leaving a knowledge gap concerning its long-term effects.</p><p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To conduct a scoping review of the literature in order to collect long-term (≥ 3 months) efficacy and tolerability data of melatonin (agonists) in children, adults, or the elderly with anxiety, depressive, or bipolar disorder.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and CENTRAL electronic databases was conducted for English or Dutch-language RCTs. Additionally, 3 electronic databases were screened for unpublished clinical trials.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Six hundred sixty-one records were identified as possibly eligible. Of these, six met the inclusion criteria. Although some studies have demonstrated a significant positive long-term effect of melatonin on mood or anxiety symptoms, most have not. In general, the use of melatonin is associated with mild adverse events.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Long-term efficacy data of melatonin (agonists) in patients with mood or anxiety disorders are scarce and inconsistent. There is insufficient long-term data allowing a thorough evaluation of its safety profile.</p>","PeriodicalId":49358,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Biological Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"328-335"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144602072","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thomas P Nguyen, Luise Baumeister-Lingens, Anna Markser, Anna-Sophia Rösch, Michael Kaess, Julian Koenig
{"title":"The cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex as a function of depression severity in adolescent non-suicidal self-injury.","authors":"Thomas P Nguyen, Luise Baumeister-Lingens, Anna Markser, Anna-Sophia Rösch, Michael Kaess, Julian Koenig","doi":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2521023","DOIUrl":"10.1080/15622975.2025.2521023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is associated with pro-inflammatory states. The cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex is a neural pathway, modulating the body's inflammatory response. This study aimed to investigate the cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex in adolescents with and without NSSI in a first, cross-sectional observational study.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Heart rate variability (HRV; a proxy for vagus nerve activity), inflammatory markers (leukocytes, c-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6)) and several clinical measures were assessed in female adolescents with NSSI (<i>n</i> = 154) and healthy controls (<i>n</i> = 46). Statistical analyses tested for group differences and correlations between HRV, inflammatory markers and depression in patients and controls. Mediation analyses were conducted to test direct and indirect effects.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The NSSI group showed greater depressive symptoms and leukocyte levels, but lower HRV compared to the control group. In the full sample, depression severity was positively correlated with leukocyte and CRP levels and negatively correlated with HRV. HRV was also negatively correlated with leukocyte and CRP levels. Depression severity mediated the association between leukocytes and HRV.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Overall, this study lends initial support that lower vagal activity is associated with increased inflammatory markers in a sample of adolescents with NSSI which suggests altered functioning of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex.</p>","PeriodicalId":49358,"journal":{"name":"World Journal of Biological Psychiatry","volume":" ","pages":"281-290"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144486685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}