The potential contribution of chronic inflammation to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders such as bipolar spectrum disorders has received increasing attention during the last years. Elevated biomarkers of inflammation have been found in bipolar patients during acute phases and throughout the course of the disease. Inflammatory cytokines can interact with multiple pathways known to be involved in the development of psychiatric disorders, including monoamine metabolism, neuroendocrine function, circadian rhythms, synaptic plasticity, and neurocircuits relevant to mood regulation. In addition, a number of typical comorbidities seem to share an inflammation-related background and might have mutually aggravating effects. Awareness of these relationships should lead to greater diagnostic vigilance and thorough diagnostic assessment.
Keywords: bipolar disorder, inflammation, biomarker, cytokine