TY - JOUR
T1 - "Latent" infection with Toxoplasma gondii
T2 - Association with trait aggression and impulsivity in healthy adults
AU - Cook, Thomas B.
AU - Brenner, Lisa A.
AU - Cloninger, C. Robert
AU - Langenberg, Patricia
AU - Igbide, Ajirioghene
AU - Giegling, Ina
AU - Hartmann, Annette M.
AU - Konte, Bettina
AU - Friedl, Marion
AU - Brundin, Lena
AU - Groer, Maureen W.
AU - Can, Adem
AU - Rujescu, Dan
AU - Postolache, Teodor T.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by a Distinguished Investigator Award (PI Postolache) from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). AFSP played no role in the design and conduct of the study, in data collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data, and preparation, review and approval of the manuscript. Results interpretation and integration, as well as writing of this report were supported by the VISN 19 Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) located at the Denver VA Medical Center. Additional support was provided by the VA Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Baltimore, MD. The antibody measurements were supported by the Stanley Laboratory of Developmental Neurovirology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
Funding Information:
This study was supported by a Distinguished Investigator Award (PI Postolache) from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). AFSP played no role in the design and conduct of the study, in data collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data, and preparation, review and approval of the manuscript. Results interpretation and integration, as well as writing of this report were supported by the VISN 19 Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) located at the Denver VA Medical Center. Additional support was provided by the VA Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Baltimore, MD. Drs. Cook and Postolache had full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. The antibody measurements wre performed, in kind, by the Stanley Laboratory of Developmental Neurovirology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; the authors thank Dr. Robert Yolken and his staff. The views, opinions and/or findings contained in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2014.
PY - 2015/1/1
Y1 - 2015/1/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Aggression
KW - Impulsivity
KW - Personality
KW - Toxoplasma gondii
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84919388233&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.09.019
DO - 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.09.019
M3 - Article
C2 - 25306262
AN - SCOPUS:84919388233
VL - 60
SP - 87
EP - 94
JO - Journal of Psychiatric Research
JF - Journal of Psychiatric Research
SN - 0022-3956
ER -