Inflammatory markers in antipsychotic-naïve patients with nonaffective psychosis and deficit vs. nondeficit features

Newly diagnosed, antipsychotic-naïve patients with nonaffective psychosis appear to have increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines. Patients characterized by primary, enduring negative symptoms (deficit symptoms) differ from patients without such features with regard to course of illness, treatment response, risk factors and metabolic disturbances. We hypothesized that they would also differ on concentrations of the inflammatory markers interleukin-6 (IL6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). Newly diagnosed, antipsychotic-naïve patients with nonaffective psychosis were categorized into deficit (N = 20) and nondeficit (N = 42) groups, and were matched on age, gender, body mass index, smoking, cortisol level, socioeconomic status, and the severity of psychotic symptoms. Fasting concentrations of IL6 were significantly higher in deficit (mean [S.D.]) (8.0 pg/ml [12.7]) than nondeficit patients (0.3 pg/ml [1.3]). CRP levels were also significantly higher in the deficit patients (0.3 mg/dl [0.4]) vs. (0.2 mg/dl [0.4]), respectively. In contrast, 2-h glucose concentrations (2HG) in a glucose tolerance test were lower in the deficit than the nondeficit group. Our results show a double dissociation with regard to glucose intolerance and inflammation: the deficit group has greater inflammation, but less severe glucose intolerance. These results provide further evidence for the validity of the deficit/nondeficit categorization.