Is There such a Thing as Post-Viral Depression?: Implications for Precision Medicine 2024 Park et al

Viral infections are increasingly recognized as triggers for depressive disorders, particularly following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the rise of long COVID. Viruses such as Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are linked to depression through complex neurobiological mechanisms. These include immune system dysregulation, chronic inflammation, and neurotransmitter imbalances that affect brain function and mood regulation.

Viral activation of the immune system leads to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, resulting in neuroinflammation and associated depressive symptoms. Furthermore, specific viruses can disrupt neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin, dopamine, and glutamate, all of which are essential for mood stabilization. The unique interactions of different viruses with these systems underscore the need for virus-specific therapeutic approaches. Current broad-spectrum treatments often overlook the precise neurobiological pathways involved in post-viral depression, reducing their efficacy.

This review emphasizes the need to understand these virus-specific interactions to create tailored interventions that directly address the neurobiological effects induced by each type of virus. These interventions may include immunomodulatory treatments that target persistent inflammation, antiviral therapies to reduce the viral load, or neuroprotective strategies that restore neurotransmitter balance. Precision medicine offers promising avenues for the effective management of virus-induced depression, providing patient-specific approaches that address the specific biological mechanisms involved. By focusing on the development of these targeted treatments, this review aims to pave the way for a new era in psychiatric care that fully addresses the root causes of depression induced by viral infections.

Open access, https://www.biomolther.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.4062/biomolther.2024.170

 

"For instance, research has shown that individuals recovering from some virus like hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have a notably higher likelihood of developing psychiatric problems, while others have lower probability to induce psychiatric complications. Furthermore, conditions like Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), often linked with various viral infections, underline the potential role of viruses in chronic psychiatric and fatigue syndromes."

"ME/CFS, often associated with post-viral fatigue syndromes, presents symptoms like depression and is linked to viral infections (Hwang et al., 2023). These infections include DNA, RNA, and retroviruses, emphasizing the potential impact of these infections in developing ME/CFS. The odds ratios of viral infections among ME/CFS patients compared to healthy controls demonstrate a notable association, especially for viruses like parvovirus B19 and coxsackie B viruses, which seem to significantly increase the risk of ME/CFS. This condition often includes symptoms of depression and chronic fatigue."

"Viruses also exhibit selective mechanisms of inducing depressive symptoms based on their unique life cycles. HSV can establish latent infections, which reemerge during periods of stress, increasing viral replication and causing pathological outcomes, including mood disruptions. A similar pattern is observed with EBV infections, which can induce chronic fatigue syndrome."