Baseline circulating biomarkers, their changes, and subsequent suicidal ideation and depression severity at 6 months: A prospective analysis in patients with mood disorders

Background

Identifying circulating biomarkers associated with prospective suicidal ideation (SI) and depression could help better understand the dynamics of these phenomena and identify people in need of intense care. In this study, we investigated the associations between baseline peripheral biomarkers implicated in neuroplasticity, vascular homeostasis and inflammation, and prospective SI and depression severity during 6 months of follow-up in patients with mood disorders.

Methods

149 patients underwent a psychiatric evaluation and gave blood to measure 32 plasma soluble proteins. At follow-up, SI incidence over six months was measured with the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology. Ninety-six patients provided repeated blood samples. Statistical analyses included Spearman partial correlation and Elastic Net regression, followed by the covariate-adjusted regression models.

Results

51.4 % (N = 71) of patients reported SI during follow-up. After adjustment for covariates, higher baseline levels of interferon-$\gamma$ were associated with SI occurrence during follow-up. Higher baseline interferon-$\gamma$ and lower orexin-A were associated with increased depression severity, and atypical and anxious, but not melancholic, symptoms. There was also a tendency for associations of elevated baseline levels of interferon-$\gamma$, interleukin-1β, and lower plasma serotonin levels with SI at the six-month follow-up time point. Meanwhile, reduction in transforming growth factor- $\beta$1 (TGF-$\beta$1) plasma concentration correlated with atypical symptoms reduction.

Conclusion

We identified interferon-$\gamma$ and orexin-A as potential predictive biomarkers of SI and depression, whereas TGF-$\beta$1 was identified as a possible target of atypical symptoms.