By Murray Sherriffs
A drug now being used to treat rheumatoid arthritis is being viewed as a significant treatment avenue for individuals battling depression.
Researchers say that tocilizumab—an anti-inflammatory medication—could alleviate symptoms in patients who don’t respond to standard antidepressant therapies.
One in three patients don’t.
Early evidence shows that tocilizumab may reduce depressive symptoms, combat fatigue, anxiety and improve overall quality of life.
Research at the University of Bristol builds on findings which reveal that about a third of people with depression show signs of inflammation in their blood, suggesting the condition could be linked to an overactive immune system.
The study is published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry.
