AUTHOR=Huckans Marilyn , Fuller Bret E. , Chalker Alison L. N. , Adams Madeleine , Loftis Jennifer M. 

TITLE=Plasma Inflammatory Factors Are Associated with Anxiety, Depression, and Cognitive Problems in Adults with and without Methamphetamine Dependence: An Exploratory Protein Array Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2015

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00178

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2015.00178

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=<sec id="ST1"><title>Objectives</title><p>It is hypothesized that immune factors influence addictive behaviors and contribute to relapse. The primary study objectives were to (1) compare neuropsychiatric symptoms across adults with active methamphetamine (MA) dependence, in early remission from MA dependence, and with no history of substance dependence, (2) determine whether active or recent MA dependence affects the expression of immune factors, and (3) evaluate the association between immune factor levels and neuropsychiatric symptoms.</p></sec><sec id="ST2"><title>Methods</title><p>A cross-sectional study was conducted using between group comparisons and regression analyses to investigate associations among variables. Eighty-four adults were recruited into control (CTL) (<italic>n</italic> = 31), MA-active (<italic>n</italic> = 17), or MA-remission (<italic>n</italic> = 36) groups. Participants completed self-report measures of anxiety, depression, and memory complaints and objective tests of attention and executive function. Blood samples were collected, and a panel of immune factors was measured using multiplex technology.</p></sec><sec id="ST3"><title>Results</title><p>Relative to CTLs, MA-dependent adults evidenced greater anxiety and depression during active use (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001) and remission (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.007), and more attention, memory, and executive problems during remission (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01) but not active dependence. Regression analyses identified 10 immune factors (putatively associated with cytokine–cytokine receptor interactions) associated with anxiety, depression, and memory problems.</p></sec><sec id="ST4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>While psychiatric symptoms are present during active MA dependence and remission, at least some cognitive difficulties emerge only during remission. Altered expression of a network of immune factors contributes to neuropsychiatric symptom severity.</p></sec>