Michael Maes

Sichuan Provincial Center for Mental Health University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

Objective: To identify the COVID-19 impact on well-being/mental health, coping strategies and risk factors in adolescent worldwide. Method: Anonymous online multi-national/language survey in the general population (representative/weighted non-representative samples, 14-17years), measuring change in well-being (WHO-5/range=0-100) and psychopathology...

Iron is a trace metal that takes part in the maintenance of body homeostasis by, for instance, aiding in energy production and immunity. A body of evidence now demonstrates that dysfunction in iron metabolism can have detrimental effects and is intricately associated with the development of neuropsychiatric disorders, including Major Depressive Dis...

Background: The pathogenesis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is linked to autoimmune attacks against myelin proteins, and reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). However, the connection between viral reactivation and autoimmune biomarkers has remained unclear. Objectives: To investigate immunoglobu...

Introduction: Autoimmune responses contribute to the pathophysiology of Long COVID,

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) and its most severe phenotype, major dysmood disorder (MDMD), are distinguished by the activation of the immune-inflammatory response system, T cell activation, and a relative T regulatory cell suppression. Nevertheless, these immune data were not used to characterize the features of the immune protein-pr...

Early flow cytometry studies revealed T cell activation in major depressive disorder (MDD). MDD is characterised by activation of the immune-inflammatory response system (IRS) and the compensatory immunoregulatory system (CIRS), including deficits in T regulatory (Treg) cells. This study examines the number of cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) and type 2 (C...

Background:Long COVID (LC) presents with complex pathophysiology,affecting multiple organs and producing a range of symptoms,from neuropsychiatric disturbances to multi-organ dysfunction.Liver damage has emerged as a notable feature,yet no systematic review or meta-analysis has comprehensively evaluated the biomarkers confirming liver injury in LC...

Background: Long COVID (LC) presents with complex pathophysiology, affecting multiple organs and producing a range of symptoms, from neuropsychiatric disturbances to multi-organ dysfunction. Liver damage has emerged as a notable feature, yet no systematic review or meta-analysis has comprehensively evaluated the biomarkers confirming liver injury i...

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is defined by elevated IgG/IgA/IgM responses targeting Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA) and deoxyuridine-triphosphatases (dUTPases) of Human herpsesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and EBV. These responses suggest that the viruses are being replicated and reactivated. An increased prevalence of chronic...

Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) is defined by elevated IgG/IgA/IgM responses targeting Epstein-Barr Virus nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA) and deoxyuridine-triphosphatases (dUTPases) of Human herpsesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and EBV. These responses suggest that the viruses are being replicated and reactivated. An increased prevalence of chronic fatigu...

This study investigates the functional brain network in major depressive disorder using network theory and a consensus network approach. At the macroscopic level, we found significant differences in connectivity measures such as node strength and clustering coefficient, with healthy controls exhibiting higher values. This is consistent with disrupt...

Abstract Background: Persistent infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), reactivation of dormant viruses, and immune-oxidative responses are involved in long COVID. Objectives: To investigate whether long COVID and depressive, anxiety, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) symptoms are associated with IgA/IgM/IgG to...

Recent studies have increasingly highlighted a potential link between gut microbiota (GM) and chronic pain. However, existing research has yielded mixed results, leaving many questions unanswered. We employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization design to investigate whether GM directly influences multisite chronic pain (MCP) and eight phenotypes....

Abstract Recent studies have increasingly highlighted a potential link between gut microbiota (GM) and chronic pain. However, existing research has yielded mixed results, leaving many questions unanswered. We employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization design to investigate whether GM directly influences multisite chronic pain (MCP) and eight phe...

The pathophysiology of amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) is largely unknown, although some papers found signs of immune activation. To assess the cytokine network in aMCI after excluding patients with major depression (MDD) and to examine the immune profiles of quantitative aMCI (qMCI) and distress symptoms of old age (DSOA) scores. A case-...

There is no multi-country/multi-language study testing a-priori multivariable associations between non-modifiable/modifiable factors and validated wellbeing/multidimensional mental health outcomes before/during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, studies during COVID-19 pandemic generally do not report on representative/weighted non-probability sample...

Background: A recent report showed significant differences in IgA responses to tryptophan catabolites (TRYCATs) in major neurocognitive psychosis (MNP) versus simple neurocognitive psychosis (SNP) and normal controls. MNP and SNP are two qualitatively distinct schizophrenia classes which are differentiated by neurocognitive deficits, phenome featur...

Background: Immune-inflammatory pathways in major depressive disorder are confined to the major dysmood disorder (MDMD) phenotype (Maes et al., 2022). No studies have addressed the immune profile of first episode MDMD (FE-MDMD). Methods: This study investigated the immune profiles of 71 patients with the acute phase of first-episode major depressi...

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) often coexist with metabolic syndrome. Both are linked to increased atherogenicity and a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Objectives: This meta-analysis seeks to evaluate the relationship between atherogenic indices and mood disorders (MDD/BD), while identifying the most e...

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) often coexist with metabolic syndrome. Both are linked to increased atherogenicity and a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Objectives: This meta-analysis seeks to evaluate the relationship between atherogenic indices and mood disorders (MDD/BD), while identifying the most...

Abstract Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread pain and immune dysregulation. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota and inflammatory proteins may contribute to the development of FM. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the causal relationships between gut microbiota, inflammatory pr...

Background: Recently, we developed Research and Diagnostic Algorithm Rules (RADAR) to assess the clinical and pathway features of mood disorders. Aims: The aims of this paper are to review a) the methodology for developing continuous RADAR scores that describe the clinical and pathway features of schizophrenia, and b) a new method to visualize the...

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Reactivation of Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is observed in MS. Objectives: This study investigates immunoglobulins (Ig)G, IgM, and IgA directed against EBV nuclear antigen EBNA-366-406, HHV-6 and EBV deoxyuri...

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Reactivation of Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is observed in MS. Objectives: This study investigates immunoglobulins (Ig)G, IgM, and IgA directed against EBV nuclear antigen EBNA-366-406, HHV-6 and EBV deoxyuri...

Background Interactions between genetic and environmental variables contribute to the autoimmune inflammatory process in multiple sclerosis (MS). Elevated homocysteine levels, and vitamin D, vitamin B12, and folate deficiencies are some of the environmental factors associated with the pathogenesis of MS. Considering that the relationship between MT...

Background Two distinct symptom dimensions were identified in older adults who did not have major depressive disorder (MDD): a) a dimension associated with mild cognitive dysfunction, and b) a dimension related to distress symptoms of old age (DSOA). It is uncertain whether previous findings regarding the features of amnestic mild cognitive impairm...

Inflammation and autoimmune responses contribute to the pathophysiology of Long COVID, and its affective and chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms, labeled “the physio‐affective phenome.” To investigate whether Long COVID and its physio‐affective phenome are linked to autoimmunity to the tight junction proteins, zonulin and occludin (ZOOC), and immune...

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating disease that severely affects the central nervous system (CNS). Apart from neurological symptoms, it is also characterized by neuropsychiatric comorbidities, such as anxiety and depression. Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5Is) such as Sildenafil and Tadalafil have been shown to possess antidepressant-lik...

Introduction The aim of this systematic review is to assess the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies of bipolar disorder (BD) patients that characterize differences in terms of structural, functional, and effective connectivity between the patients with BD, patients with other psychiatric disorders and healthy controls as possible b...

Background: Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a neurodevelopmental disorder and its neurocognitive impairments are a significant determinant of prognosis, social function, and quality of life. Nevertheless, the explanation for the pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunctions in schizophrenia remains elusive. m6A methylation is implicated in the pathogenesis of schi...

Background Using machine learning methods based on neurocognitive deficits and neuroimmune biomarkers, two distinct classes were discovered within schizophrenia patient samples. Increased frequency of psychomotor retardation, formal thought disorders, mannerisms, psychosis, hostility, excitation, and negative symptoms defined the first subgroup, ma...

THE WESTERN DIAGNOSIS OF MAJOR DEPRESSION (American Psychiatric Association) IS WORTHLESS AND CONTRAPRODUCTIVE. NEVER USE THE DSM (and ICD) CRITERIA. ALL PAPERS BASED ON DSM CRITERIA SHOULD BE REJECTED, unless well phenotyped according to subtype (MDMD versus SDMD, stage (acute versus remission versus partial remission), recurrence of illness index...

In this study, we aimed to investigate the associations between the recurrence of illness (ROI) and biomarkers related to an activated immune network, immune-linked neurotoxicity (INT), and a combined INT and atherogenicity index (METAMMUNE). The study involved 67 healthy controls and 66 outpatient MDD (OMDD) participants. We utilized a Multiplex m...

Objectives The pathophysiology of amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) is largely unknown, although some papers found signs of immune activation. To assess the cytokine network in aMCI after excluding patients with major depression (MDD) and to examine the immune profiles of quantitative aMCI (qMCI) and distress symptoms of old age (DSOA) scor...

Background Chronic Methamphetamine (MA) usage is linked to oxidative and AGE (advanced glycation end products) - RAGE (receptors for AGEs) stress, changes in magnesium, calcium, and copper, increased psychotic symptoms, and neurocognitive deficits. Nevertheless, it is still unclear whether these biological pathways mediate the latter impairments....

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by increased T helper (Th)1 polarization, T cell activation (e.g., CD71+ and CD40L+), and cannabinoid receptor type 2 bearing CD20+ B cells; and lower T regulatory (Treg) numbers. Aims: To delineate the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and recurrence of illness (ROI) on act...

Background: Inflammation and autoimmune responses contribute to the pathophysiology of Long COVID and its affective and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) symptoms labeled the physio-affective phenome. Objectives: To investigate whether Long COVID and its physio-affective phenome are linked to autoimmunity to the tight junction proteins zonulin and occ...

Background: Inflammation and autoimmune responses contribute to the pathophysiology of Long COVID, and its affective and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) symptoms, labeled “the physio-affective phenome.” Objectives: To investigate whether Long COVID and its physio-affective phenome are linked to autoimmunity to the tight junction proteins, zonulin a...

Major depression (MDD) is the most disabling disorder worldwide: pathophysiology and new treatments PRECISION NOMOTHETIC PSYCHIATRY FRAMEWORK Long COVID model

Background Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is characterized by changes in lipids and oxidative stress (OS). It is crucial to exclude patients with major depression (MDD) to accurately evaluate these biomarkers in aMCI. Aims To examine lipid and oxidative stress biomarkers associated with aMCI versus normal controls. Methods We performed...

Background: Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is characterized by changes in lipids and oxidative stress (OS). It is crucial to exclude patients with major depression (MDD) to accurately evaluate these biomarkers in aMCI. Aims: To examine lipid and oxidative stress biomarkers associated with aMCI versus normal controls. Methods: We performe...

Administration mode of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) may influence responses. We assessed if Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale – Depression subscale (HADS-D) item responses and scores were associated with administration mode. We compared (1) self...

Background There is evidence that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and negative life events (NLEs) are associated with major depression (MDD). Purpose To determine whether ACEs affect all features of mild MDD, including suicidal tendencies, brooding, neuroticism, insomnia, cognitive deficits, severity of depression and anxiety, and cognitive d...

Background. Parkinson's disease (PD) is frequently accompanied by mood and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) symptoms. It is unknown whether immune activation and insulin resistance (IR) or brain injuries impacts the severity of affective and CFS symptoms due to PD. Aims. To examine whether immune, IR, and/or brain injury biomarkers determine affectiv...

Background. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is frequently accompanied by mood and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) symptoms. It is unknown whether immune activation and insulin resistance (IR) or brain injuries impacts the severity of affective and CFS symptoms due to PD. Aims. To examine whether immune, IR, and/or brain injury biomarkers determine affectiv...

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is associated with T cell activation, but no studies have examined the combined effects of T cell activation and deficits in T regulatory (Treg) cells on the severity of acute phase MDD. Using flow cytometry, we determined the percentage and median fluorescence intensity of CD69, CD71, CD40L, and HLADR-bearing CD3+,...

Background: The pathophysiology of amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) is largely unknown, although some papers found signs of immune activation. Aims: To assess the cytokine network in aMCI after excluding patients with major depression (MDD) and to examine the immune profiles of quantitative aMCI (qMCI) and distress symptoms of old age (DSO...

Background: The pathophysiology of amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) is largely unknown, although some papers found signs of immune activation. Aims: To assess the cytokine network in aMCI after excluding patients with major depression (MDD) and to examine the immune profiles of quantitative aMCI (qMCI) and distress symptoms of old age (DSO...

Background: Recent studies confirm the involvement of activated immune-inflammatory responses and increased oxidative and nitrosative stress in Long COVID (LC) disease. However, the influence of these pathways on the metabolism of tryptophan (TRP) through the TRP catabolite (TRYCAT) pathway and their mediating effects on LC pathophysiology, has not...

Background: Recent studies confirm the involvement of activated immune-inflammatory responses and increased oxidative and nitrosative stress in Long COVID (LC) disease. However, the influence of these pathways on the metabolism of tryptophan (TRP) through the TRP catabolite (TRYCAT) pathway and their mediating effects on LC pathophysiology, has not...

Background. Inconsistent findings characterize studies on mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) and its relation to neuropsychiatric disorders. This bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study explores potential causal links between mtDNA-CN and neuropsychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Attention-deficit/hyperact...

Background. Inconsistent findings characterize studies on mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) and its relation to neuropsychiatric disorders. This bidirectional two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) study explores potential causal links between mtDNA-CN and neuropsychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Attention-deficit/hyperact...

Background. Long COVID (LC) patients frequently suffer from neuropsychiatric symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), relabeled as the physio-affective phenome of LC. Activated immune-inflammatory pathways and insulin resistance key play a role in these physio-affective symptoms due to LC. Aims: To examine the as...

Background Autoimmune responses contribute to the pathophysiology of Long COVID, affective symptoms and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Objectives To examine whether Long COVID, and its accompanying affective symptoms and CFS are associated with immunoglobulin (Ig)A/IgM/IgG directed at neuronal proteins including myeli...

Background: Using machine learning methods based on neurocognitive deficits and neuroimmune biomarkers, two distinct classes were discovered within schizophrenia patient samples. The first, major neurocognitive psychosis (MNP) was characterized by cognitive deficits in executive functions and memory, higher prevalence of psychomotor retardation, fo...

Background. Neuropsychiatric disorders in preeclampsia (PE) women are prevalent and worsen PE outcome. Immune-related biomarkers including soluble sCD80 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (sCTLA-4) are not well studied in relation to depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue due to PE. Aims. To study serum immune-inflammatory biomarkers of PE and...

Background. Neuropsychiatric disorders in preeclampsia (PE) women are prevalent and worsen PE outcome. Immune-related biomarkers including soluble sCD80 and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (sCTLA-4) are not well studied in relation to depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue due to PE. Aims. To study serum immune-inflammatory biomarkers of PE and...

Background: The first author of this paper introduced new precision nomothetic models for a major depressive episode (MDD) which incorporate quantitative scores that measure recurrence of illness (ROI). Objective: To explore the connections between ROI and biomarkers related to an activated immune network, immune-linked neurotoxicity (INT), and a c...

Background: Using machine learning methods based on neurocognitive deficits and neuroimmune biomarkers, two distinct classes were discovered within schizophrenia patient samples. The first, major neurocognitive psychosis (MNP) was characterized by cognitive deficits in executive functions and memory, higher prevalence of psychomotor retardation, fo...

Background: The first author of this paper introduced new precision nomothetic models for a major depressive episode (MDD) which incorporate quantitative scores that measure recurrence of illness (ROI). Objective: To explore the connections between ROI and biomarkers related to an activated immune network, immune-linked neurotoxicity (INT), and a...

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of escitalopram on the peripheral expression of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis-related genes (FKBP51, HSP90, NR3C1 and POMC) and HPA-axis hormones in patients with panic disorder (PD). Methods Seventy-seven patients with PD were treated with escitalopram for 12 weeks. Al...

Background: Persistent infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), reactivation of dormant viruses, and immune-oxidative responses are involved in long COVID. Objectives: To investigate whether long COVID and depressive, anxiety, and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) symptoms are associated with IgA/IgM/IgG to SARS-Co...

Background: Chronic methamphetamine (MA) usage is linked to oxidative stress (OS), AGE-RAGE stress, changes in magnesium, calcium, and copper, increased psychotic symptoms and neurocognitive deficits. Nevertheless, it is still unclear whether the latter impairments are mediated by these biological pathways. Aims: The purpose of this study was to in...

Background Major depressive disorder (MDD) is considered to be a neuroimmune disorder. However, there are no data regarding the association between comprehensive immune profiles and their interactions with the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in predicting neuroticism, suicidal behaviors, and severity of outpatient MDD (OMDD). Methods We assayed 48 serum...

Background: Chronic methamphetamine (MA) usage is linked to oxidative stress (OS), AGE-RAGE stress, changes in magnesium, calcium, and copper, increased psychotic symptoms and neurocognitive deficits. Nevertheless, it is still unclear whether the latter impairments are mediated by these biological pathways. Aims: The purpose of this study was to in...

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is accompanied by activated neuro-immune pathways, increased physiosomatic and chronic fatigue-fibromyalgia (FF) symptoms. The most severe MDD phenotype, namely major dysmood disorder (MDMD), is associated with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and negative life events (NLEs) which induce cytokines/chemokines/grow...

NEW DRUG TARGETS TO TREAT ASD. THE KEY FACTOR is RelA. Other targets: TLR complex; IKK beta/IKK gamma; Canonical NFKB pathway; RelA/NFKB; CIRS depletion (IL-10, sIL-1RA); IL-1 signaling; Neurogenesis; Thelper-1 polarization; Microglial activation; Mitochondrial dysfunction

Undergraduate students are frequently afflicted by major depressive disorder (MDD). Oxidative and nitrosative stress (O&NS) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD. There is no information regarding whether mild outpatient MDD (SDMD) and first episode SDMD (FE-SDMD) are accompanied by O&NS. The current study compared lipid hydroperoxides...

Undergraduate students are frequently afflicted by major depressive disorder (MDD). Oxidative and nitrosative stress (O&NS) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD. There is no information regarding whether mild outpatient MDD (SDMD) and first episode SDMD (FE-SDMD) are accompanied by O&NS. The current study compared lipid hydroperoxides...

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disturbance, diagnosed in early childhood. It is associated with varying degrees of dysfunctional communication and social skills, repetitive and stereotypic behaviors. Regardless of the constant increase in the number of diagnosed patients, there are still no established treatment schemes in g...

This research assessed the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and negative life events (NLEs) on forty-eight cytokines/chemokines/growth factors, in 71 FE-MDMD patients and forty heathy controls. ACEs are highly significantly associated with the classical M1 macrophage, T helper (Th)-1, Th-1 polarization, IRS, and neurotoxicity immune...

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a disturbance of neurodevelopment with a complicated pathogenesis and unidentified etiology. Many children with ASD have a history of "allergic symp-toms", often in the absence of mast cell (MC)-positive tests. Activation of MCs by various stimuli may release molecules related to inflammation and neurotoxicity, con...

Background Increasing data suggest emergent affective symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives To study the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on affective symptoms and suicidal ideation in Thai adults. Methods The Collaborative Outcomes Study on Health and Functioning during Infection Times uses non-probability sampling (chain referring an...