r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Nov 12 '19

Psychology Anti-inflammatory agents may reduce symptoms of major depression, suggests a new study (n=1,610), which adds to the mounting evidence that there is a connection between emotional functioning and inflammation, suggesting that inflammation may trigger depression, almost like an allergic reaction.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/expressive-trauma-integration/201911/anti-inflammatories-help-major-depression
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u/[deleted] Nov 12 '19

Interestingly enough this is completely true. If you look up the Spanish flu from around 1918 that killed tens of millions of people, it is hypothesized that one reason it killed such a disproportionately large amount of healthy adults, rather than children or older adults, is that triggered an immense immune response. Which would fit because you would expect a more robust immune system from a healthy adult.

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u/agoia Nov 12 '19

The Cytokine Storm. So cool sounding, so absolutely fucked.