Depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder: identifying inflammation to improve patient care
A major study from the SINAPS research centre (a collaboration between the University of Antwerp and the University Psychiatric Centre Duffel, Belgium) in partnership with Fondation FondaMental (France) has shed new light on the role of inflammation in severe psychiatric disorders. Based on data from over 7,000 patients monitored in the Fondation FondaMental’s data bases, the research points to new ways of personalizing care for patients with depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder.
Approximately one third of people living with severe psychiatric disorders—such as treatment-resistant depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder—present with chronic low-grade inflammation. This biological phenomenon is associated with more severe forms of illness and a poorer response to treatments.
A biological marker present in one third of patients
Published in the international scientific journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity[1], this research draws on the Foundation’s national FACE (FondaMental Advanced Centers of Expertise) cohorts. It brings together patients with treatment-resistant depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in order to better understand the common factors associated with this chronic inflammation.
[1] Tim Rietberg et al. From non-specific biomarker to targeted action: transdiagnostic and sex-specific drivers of high-CRP status in severe mental illness across the FondaMental Advanced Centers of Expertise (FACE) cohorts, Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2026.106464
The findings show that around 30% of patients, regardless of their psychiatric diagnosis, have elevated levels of CRP (C-reactive protein), a blood biomarker indicative of chronic low-grade inflammation.
Researchers also used several robust statistical methods (penalised logistic regression, random forests and unsupervised clustering) to identify the main factors associated with this low-grade chronic inflammation:
- Overweight and obesity, by far the most significant factor
- Metabolic imbalances, particularly cholesterol levels
- Smoking and nicotine dependence
These lifestyle and metabolic health factors, well known in cardiovascular medicine, therefore also play a key role in the inflammation associated with the psychiatric disorders studied.
However, the study shows that the factors linked to chronic inflammation differ according to sex. In women, inflammation is primarily associated with overweight and metabolic problems. Another biological marker, uric acid, also appears to be a related factor. In men, the situation is more varied, but smoking emerges as a particularly important contributor.
What are the implications for patients?
These findings support a more personalised approach to care, using CRP not merely as a general indicator but as an early warning signal to guide targeted interventions. In addition to standard treatment (psychotropic medication and psychotherapy), this could include lifestyle interventions (diet, physical activity, smoking cessation) or treatments specifically aimed at inflammation and/or metabolic abnormalities.
This research represents an important step towards precision psychiatry, tailored to individual characteristics. The authors now call for prospective studies to assess the impact of these targeted interventions on inflammation.
Understanding not just whether a patient has an inflammatory component, but also what is driving it, allows us to combine conventional treatments with early interventions targeting metabolic health, lifestyle habits, or other underlying contributors to improve recovery and overall outcomes.
Tim Rietberg, PhD Researcher at the University of Antwerp (SINAPS), Board Member at Uilenspiegel vzw and Psyche vzw
Precision psychiatry allows us to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. By identifying biological markers like CRP, we can classify patients more accurately and tailor treatments to their individual needs, improving outcomes in severe psychiatric disorders.
Pr. Livia de Picker, Associate Professor of Clinical Immunopsychiatry, University Psychiatric Hospital Duffel & University of Antwerp
People with mental health disorders live on average ten years less than the general population. Understanding the links between mental and physical health is therefore a crucial research priority for improving patient care.
Pr. Marion Leboyer, Professor of Psychiatry at Université Paris-Est Créteil, Deputy Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Addictology at Hôpitaux universitaires Henri Mondor, Director of the INSERM Translational Psychiatry Laboratory (U955), CEO of the Fondation FondaMental
Acknowledgements
This project was funded by FWO Tournesol mobility grant, a scientific exchange programme supported by FWO and the Embassy of France in Brussels.
This study was made possible thanks to the participation of more than 7,000 patients from the Expert Centres coordinated by the Fondation FondaMental, who consented to the secure and anonymised use of their clinical and biological data for scientific research purposes.
About SINAPS (Scientific Initiative for Neuropsychiatric and Psychopharmacological Studies)
SINAPS is an academic research centre focused on advancing scientific knowledge in the field of psychiatric disorders. It was founded through a collaboration between the University Psychiatric Centre Duffel and the University of Antwerp. SINAPS conducts clinical and translational research into mental health conditions, aiming to better understand underlying biological and clinical mechanisms and ultimately improve the quality of life for people with psychiatric vulnerabilities.
More info at SINAPS Duffel | SINAPS Duffel
Press contact: Jasper Delanoy - jasper.delanoy@emmaus.be - +32 (0)495 60 24 95
Fondation FondaMental: innovating to overcome mental illnesses
Created in 2007 on the initiative of the French Ministry of Research and dedicated to scientific cooperation in the field of severe mental illness, Fondation FondaMental’s mission is to advance cutting-edge research, innovate in diagnosis and monitoring, train healthcare professionals, inform the public and bring together various players in the field of psychiatric.
It focuses its efforts on schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, resistant depression and autism spectrum disorders, bringing hopeful solutions to the scientific and medical community, patients and their families.
The Fondation FondaMental relies on both public and private funding to promote French scientific expertise internationally, accelerate the pace of discoveries, and help defeat mental illness.
Press Contact: Mathilde Couderc – mathilde.couderc@agence-constance.fr – +33 (0)7 57 68 30 62
