Thomas B Cook1, Lisa A Brenner2, C Robert Cloninger3, Patricia Langenberg4, Ajirioghene Igbide5, Ina Giegling6, Annette M Hartmann6, Bettina Konte6, Marion Friedl6, Lena Brundin7, Maureen W Groer8, Adem Can9, Dan Rujescu6, Teodor T Postolache10. 1. Department of Public Health, Mercyhurst Institute for Public Health, Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA, USA. 2. Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19, Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Denver, CO, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA. 3. Department of Psychiatry, Sansone Centre for Well-Being, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA. 4. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. 5. DC Department of Behavioral Health, Saint Elizabeths Hospital, Psychiatry Residency Program, Washington, DC, USA. 6. Department of Psychiatry, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany. 7. Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA. 8. University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. 9. Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland-Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. 10. Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19, Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Denver, CO, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland-Baltimore School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 5, Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: tpostolache@psych.umaryland.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Latent chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a common neurotropic pathogen, has been previously linked with suicidal self-directed violence (SSDV). We sought to determine if latent infection with T. gondii is associated with trait aggression and impulsivity, intermediate phenotypes for suicidal behavior, in psychiatrically healthy adults. METHODS: Traits of aggression and impulsivity were analyzed in relationship to IgG antibody seropositivity for T. gondii and two other latent neurotropic infections, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). One thousand community-residing adults residing in the Munich metropolitan area with no Axis I or II conditions by SCID for DSM-IV (510 men, 490 women, mean age 53.6 ± 15.8, range 20-74). Plasma samples were tested for IgG antibodies to T. gondii, HSV-1 and CMV by ELISA. Self-reported ratings of trait aggression scores (Questionnaire for Measuring Factors of Aggression [FAF]) and trait impulsivity (Sensation-Seeking Scale-V [SSS-V]) were analyzed using linear multivariate methods. RESULTS: T. gondii IgG seropositivity was significantly associated with higher trait reactive aggression scores among women (p < .01), but not among men. T. gondii-positivity was also associated with higher impulsive sensation-seeking (SSS-V Disinhibition) among younger men (p < .01) aged 20-59 years old (median age = 60). All associations with HSV-1 and CMV were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Aggression and impulsivity, personality traits considered as endophenotypes for SSDV, are associated with latent T. gondii infection in a gender and age-specific manner, and could be further investigated as prognostic and treatment targets in T. gondii-positive individuals at risk for SSDV. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
BACKGROUND: Latent chronic infection with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), a common neurotropic pathogen, has been previously linked with suicidal self-directed violence (SSDV). We sought to determine if latent infection with T. gondii is associated with trait aggression and impulsivity, intermediate phenotypes for suicidal behavior, in psychiatrically healthy adults. METHODS: Traits of aggression and impulsivity were analyzed in relationship to IgG antibody seropositivity for T. gondii and two other latent neurotropic infections, herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). One thousand community-residing adults residing in the Munich metropolitan area with no Axis I or II conditions by SCID for DSM-IV (510 men, 490 women, mean age 53.6 ± 15.8, range 20-74). Plasma samples were tested for IgG antibodies to T. gondii, HSV-1 and CMV by ELISA. Self-reported ratings of trait aggression scores (Questionnaire for Measuring Factors of Aggression [FAF]) and trait impulsivity (Sensation-Seeking Scale-V [SSS-V]) were analyzed using linear multivariate methods. RESULTS:T. gondii IgG seropositivity was significantly associated with higher trait reactive aggression scores among women (p < .01), but not among men. T. gondii-positivity was also associated with higher impulsive sensation-seeking (SSS-V Disinhibition) among younger men (p < .01) aged 20-59 years old (median age = 60). All associations with HSV-1 and CMV were not significant. CONCLUSIONS:Aggression and impulsivity, personality traits considered as endophenotypes for SSDV, are associated with latent T. gondii infection in a gender and age-specific manner, and could be further investigated as prognostic and treatment targets in T. gondii-positive individuals at risk for SSDV. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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