Childhood maltreatment severity is associated with elevated C-reactive protein and body mass index in adults with schizophrenia and bipolar diagnoses

Background: Several studies have described an association between childhood maltreatment and inflammatory markers in the psychotic disorders (schizophrenia [SZ] and bipolar disorder [BD]). Previous studies have been relatively small (<50 participants), and the severity of abuse and the putative influence of body mass index (BMI) have not been properly investigated. Methods: The combined effects of childhood abuse severity and clinical diagnosis on inflammatory markers were investigated in a large sample (n = 483) of patients with a disorder on the psychosis spectrum and in healthy controls (HCs). Plasma levels of inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP], soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type 1 [TNFR-R1], glycoprotein 130 [gp1301) were analyzed, and BMI and data on childhood trauma events, on the basis of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), were obtained from all participants. Results: Patients had increased levels of hs-CRP (P < 0.001, Cohens d = 0.4), lower levels of gp130 (P < 0.001, Cohens d = 0.5), higher BMI (P < 0.001, Cohens d = 0.5) and reported more childhood maltreatment experiences (P < 0.001, Cohens d = 1.2) than the HC group. The severity of childhood abuse (up to three types of abuse: sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse) was associated with elevated BMI (f = 8.46, P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.5) and hs-CRP (f = 5.47, P = 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.3). Combined effects of patient status and severity of childhood abuse were found for elevated hs-CRP (f = 4.76, P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.4). Differences among the groups disappeared when BMI was added to the model. Discussion: Trauma-altered immune activation via elevated hs-CRP in patients with SZ and BD may be mediated by higher BMI; however, the direction of this association needs further clarification. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.