Cytomegalovirus in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia and suicide risk: A case-control study

Objectives: The aim of this case-control study is to investigate the possible relationship between Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and schizophrenia or suicidal behavior. Methods: A total of 274 individuals, including 134 patients with schizophrenia and 140 healthy controls were included in this case-control study. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical data and suicidal risk scores of the participants were recorded during face to face interviews, and serum CMV IgG seroprevalence was determined. Results: The demographic and clinical data of the participants included in the study were as follows: the mean age was 30.82±0.59 years; 50.7% were female and 49.3% male; 5.1% were illiterate, 26.3% were primary school graduates, 42.3% were secondary middle school graduates, 26.3% were undergraduates; the mean Suicide Behaviors Question-naire-Revised (SBQ-R) score was 6.27±3.12. Seropositivity rate of CMV IgG was found to be 64.6% (177/274). It was determined that CMV IgG seropositivity rates were 48.6% (68/140) in the healthy control group and 81.3% (109/134) in the schizophrenia group, and the relationship between schizophrenia and CMV IgG seropositivity was statistically significant (p<0.001). CMV IgG seropositivity rates were 61.5% in the non-suicide risk and 70.7% in the suicide risk group, and the relationship between CMV IgG seropositivity and suicide risk was not statistically significant (p=0.137). Conclusion: The potential effects of latent CMV infection on dopamine and other neurotransmitter levels may play a role in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia. Nevertheless, further studies on CMV and schizophrenia are needed and may lead to improved treatments for schizophrenia. © 2020 by Journal of Psychiatric Nursing.