An unexpected way to treat depression has been discovered

Researchers from the University of Bristol have found that suppressing inflammation may alleviate symptoms of treatment-resistant depression. In a small clinical trial, patients reported reduced anxiety, fatigue, and severity of depressive symptoms following therapy. The study was published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.

About one-third of people with depression respond poorly to standard antidepressants that target levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters. In recent years, scientists have increasingly linked some cases of depression to chronic inflammation in the body.

Previous research has shown that approximately one-third of patients with depression have elevated inflammatory markers in their blood. Interleukin-6 — a signaling molecule of the immune system involved in inflammatory responses — is particularly often associated with the condition.

The authors of the new study decided to test whether blocking this pathway could help reduce symptoms of depression. To do this, they used the drug tocilizumab — an immunological agent used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.

The study involved 30 adult patients with moderate or severe depression who had not responded to standard antidepressant treatment. All participants also showed signs of chronic inflammation — elevated levels of C-reactive protein in their blood.

Half of the volunteers received a single intravenous dose of tocilizumab, while the rest received a placebo. Over four weeks, the researchers tracked changes in the patients' condition.

Although the study was too small to yield statistically definitive conclusions, the researchers observed a consistent trend toward improvement in the group that received the drug. Patients reported reduced fatigue, improved concentration and appetite, as well as decreased feelings of worthlessness and inner tension. By the end of the study, approximately 54% of participants in the tocilizumab group achieved remission compared to 31% in the placebo group.

The greatest effect was observed in patients with higher levels of C-reactive protein before the start of treatment.

The authors believe the study supports the concept of "personalized psychiatry," in which treatment is selected based on the biological characteristics of a specific patient, rather than solely on the symptoms of the condition.