ArticlePsychiatric research and clinical practice2025
Major Depressive Disorder in Long COVID and Exposure to Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines During Infection by SARS-CoV-2.
Article in Psychiatric research and clinical practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Article
- Severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection increases the risk of generalized anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder in COVID-19 survivors: a prospective longitudinal cohort study.Brain, behavior, & immunity - health · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Objective: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is common in long COVID syndrome; however, the neurobiological mechanisms are unclear. An immune activation response has been associated with COVID-19 severity as well as in MDD. We hypothesize that high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines during SARS-CoV-2 infection may be associated with new-onset MDD and severe outcomes such as treatment-resistant depression (TRD) and risk of suicide ideation and behavior (SI/SB). Methods: A case-control nested to a cohort study was carried out on a total of 678 COVID-19 survivors (MDD = 184 vs. non-MDD = 494). A pro-inflammatory panel of serum levels of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, IL-17α, TNF-α) was evaluated during COVID-19 hospitalization and severe outcomes such as TRD and SI/SB were assessed in individuals with new onset of MDD after hospital discharge compared to non-MDD COVID-19 survivors. Results: High levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines during SARS-CoV-2 infection were identified in MDD participants compared to non-MDD subgroups during long COVID. These differences were sustained also for TRD and SI/SB severity outcomes. There is a mild association of high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and MDD, TRD, and SI/SB. Conclusion: High levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines during severe or critical COVID-19 exposure may explain long COVID associated MDD and thus severe outcomes such as TRD and SI/SB. Relevance to clinical practice: Identifying elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines during COVID-19 as a risk factor for MDD and severe outcomes underscores the need for early screening and targeted treatments in long COVID. Monitoring cytokine levels may help clinicians predict and manage TRD and SI/SB in this population, improving long-term psychiatric outcomes.
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