Inflammation, Depression, and Anxiety Disorder: A Population-Based Study Examining the Association between Interleukin-6 and the Experiencing of Depressive and Anxiety Symptoms

Contrary to current beliefs, based on a longitudinal, nationally representative sample, interleukin-6 was found to play neither a causative nor predictive role in precipitating depressive and anxiety symptoms. It was only associated with concurrent depressive and anxiety symptoms, suggesting that it fluctuates with but is not involved in their pathogenesis.