Arthritis
medicines or anti-inflammatory medicines could help combat depression,
according to new studies. It is found that anti-cytokine drugs used for
treating inflammatory conditions like arthritis could have a great role in beating
depression.
In
autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, cytokines
(proteins) are released by cells on the activation of immune system.
Experts
opine that there could be a link between inflammation and symptoms of
depression. Previous studies have revealed that people with depression have
higher levels of cytokines.
Researchers
analysed the study to evaluate the comparison between anti-cytokine drugs and
placebo. After collecting the data, they found that there was slight improvement
in depression in people who took anti-cytokine drugs. However, this improvement
was not linked to amelioration in physical symptoms.
Experts are
keen in assessing the effect of anti-cytokine medicines on people with mild to
moderate depression and look whether they are safe and effective in treating
the symptoms of depression.
It is
important to emphasise that researchers were analysing specialised
anti-inflammatory drugs such as Infliximab, and not broadly prescribed
medicines such as Paracetamol and Ibuprofen.
These over-the-counter pain relief medicines are not recommended for
depression. Few studies looked at NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs) like Ibuprofen and found that they may have some effect on depression.
It is an interesting
fact that depression can be triggered by the inflammatory mediators (cytokines)
in the blood. Many people with depression fail to get effective results from
antidepressant drugs that alter certain brain chemicals. In such cases,
anti-inflammatory drugs might offer some help to cope with depression.
Randomised
controlled studies in approximately 2,400 people found that those under
cytokine-modulatory drugs had mild to moderate improvement in the symptoms of
depression, compared to people who were kept on placebo.
The conclusion
This
finding suggests some beneficial paths for future studies into depression.
However, this study is not strong enough to allow medical practitioners to
start using anti-inflammatory drugs to treat depression.
