Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Suicidal Behavior in People with Alcohol Consumption

We determined the association between T. gondii infection and suicidal behavior in people with alcohol consumption. One-thousand four-hundred and twenty-three people with alcohol consumption were screened for suicidal behavior and tested for anti-T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 34 of 224 (15.2%) individuals with suicidal ideation and in 118 (9.8%) of 1199 individuals without suicidal ideation (OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.08-2.47; p = 0.01). Seropositivity to T. gondii was associated with suicidal ideation in women (OR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.33-3.78; p = 0.001) and in individuals aged <= 30 years (OR: 2.68; 95% CI: 1.22-5.87; p = 0.01) and >50 years (OR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.19-6.77; p = 0.01). Anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were found in 17 of 136 (12.5%) individuals with suicide attempts and in 135 (10.5%) of 1287 individuals without suicide attempts (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 0.71-2.08; p = 0.47). Seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was associated with suicide attempts in women (OR: 1.88; 95% CI: 0.99-3.55; p = 0.04). No association between anti-T. gondii IgM and suicidal ideation or suicide attempts was found. Results suggest that T. gondii infection is associated with suicidal behavior in people with alcohol consumption.

Automated summary

The study revealed an association between T. gondii infection and suicidal behavior in individuals with alcohol consumption, especially in women and those aged <= 30 years or >50 years. The presence of anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies was linked to suicidal ideation, but no association was found with suicide attempts.