The new theory suggests that blood immunity and coagulation components may cause psychosis

A scientific study found that blood clots and the destruction of the first-line immune system may be factors that lead to the development of mental illness

This article was published in "Molecular Psychiatry" in collaboration with researchers from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Cardiff University and UCD Conway Institute

Recent studies have confirmed that blood proteins involved in the innate immune system and coagulation network are key factors involved in mental illness

The researchers analyzed these studies and developed a new theory, proposing that the imbalance of these two systems can lead to inflammation, which in turn contributes to the development of psychosis

This study proposes that changes in immune defense mechanisms-including blood clots-can lead to an increased risk of inflammation, and inflammation is thought to be the cause of the development of psychosis

The new theory further perfects the popular "second hit" hypothesis, that early genetic and/or environmental factors destroy the developing central nervous system ("first hit"), and increase the individual's subsequent and later environmental damage ("Second Strike") vulnerability

"Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve the clinical prognosis of patients with psychosis

"Although the idea that mental illness is caused by some form of inflammation and immune activation is not new, our data shows that people have a new understanding of the combined function of the innate immune complement system and blood coagulation pathways and have changed Focus on the focus and progress to psychosis," said Dr.

David Cotter, senior author of the paper and professor of molecular psychiatry in RCSI psychiatry, said: "These works build on our recent research, which increasingly hints at dysregulation of the complement and coagulation pathways that precede psychosis and psychosis.

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