The effect of the number of psychiatric hospitalizations and diagnosis in serum levels of CCL11 and GDF15 in individuals with stable schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder: The compass between neuro and somatoprogression.

Severe psychiatric disorders significantly impact quality of life and life expectancy, contributing to increased years lived with disability. Most deaths in these individuals result from chronic clinical conditions such as cardiovascular diseases. There is evidence that immune-inflammatory activation, increased oxidative stress and abnormalities in mitochondrial function play a role in the pathophysiology of major psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), and major depressive disorder (MDD). These inflammatory-oxidative processes worsen with each mood and/or psychotic episode. This study aimed to investigate serum levels of the pro-inflammatory chemokine CCL11 and the stress response cytokine GDF15 in individuals with SCZ, BD, and MDD compared to healthy controls (HC). A total of 558 participants (147 with SCZ, 130 with BD, 157 with MDD, and 114 HC) were assessed. Results indicated significantly higher serum levels of CCL11 in SCZ and BD patients compared to HC, while GDF15 levels were elevated across all psychiatric groups. A significant relationship was found between both serum cytokines and severity markers like the number of psychiatric hospitalizations. These findings suggest that increased levels of CCL11 and GDF15 may reflect systemic inflammation linked to neuroprogression and somatoprogression in these psychiatric disorders. The study emphasizes the role of inflammatory markers in understanding the comorbidities associated with these conditions and highlights the importance of integrated strategies addressing both neuropsychiatric and somatic factors to improve outcomes for patients with severe mental illnesses.