Infections and severe mental illness: a population-based matched cohort study - Report - MDSpire

Infections and severe mental illness: a population-based matched cohort study

  • By

  • Sharon L Cadogan

  • Georgia R Gore-Langton

  • Kathryn E Mansfield

  • John Tazare

  • Seena Fazel

  • Ian J Douglas

  • Caroline Morton

  • Naaheed Mukadam

  • Charlotte Warren-Gash

  • May 27, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Acute Infections and Their Association with Severe Mental Illness

Overview

This study investigates the relationship between acute infections and the risk of severe mental illness (SMI) using UK electronic health records. Various acute infections are associated with an increased risk of developing SMI, particularly for more severe infections like meningitis and sepsis.

Background

Severe mental illness (SMI) is a significant public health issue, with individuals affected experiencing reduced life expectancy. Recent evidence suggests that infections may act as triggers for mental health conditions, contributing to morbidity and mortality.

Data Highlights

Infection TypeHazard Ratio (HR)95% Confidence Interval (CI)
Skin and Soft Tissue Infection (SSTI)1.16(1.08 to 1.24)
Lower Respiratory Tract Infection (LRTI)1.28(1.20 to 1.38)
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)1.44(1.31 to 1.58)
Gastroenteritis (GE)1.53(1.42 to 1.65)
Sepsis1.69(1.52 to 1.88)
Meningitis/Encephalitis3.36(2.61 to 4.32)

Key Findings

  • Each type of acute infection was associated with an increased risk of SMI after adjustment for confounders.
  • The highest risk was observed for meningitis/encephalitis (HR 3.36).
  • Sepsis also presented a significant risk increase (HR 1.69).
  • Gastroenteritis showed a notable association with SMI (HR 1.53).

Clinical Implications

Timely treatment of infections and targeted mental health support may help mitigate the risk of developing SMI in affected individuals. Vaccination strategies could also be considered to prevent severe infections.

Conclusion

The study identifies a significant association between acute infections and the risk of severe mental illness.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Critical Care (Springer), 2025 -- Association between isolation room admission in intensive care units and long-term psychiatric disorders: a nationwide cohort study
  2. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology -- Severe infections as risk factors for acute myocardial infarction: a nationwide, Danish cohort study from 1987 to 2018
  3. BMC Psychiatry (Springer), 2025 -- Romantic relations, sexuality and intimacy among young adults and adolescents with severe mental illness: a review of the literature
  4. The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia | American Journal of Psychiatry
  5. Infection — Exploring the Impact of Socioeconomic Status, Ethnicity, and Clinical Factors on Sepsis Mortality Rates: A Population-Based Case-Control Analysis Utilizing Linked Primary Care and Hospital Data from England
  6. COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing the long-term effects of COVID-19
  7. Characterizing Infectious Disease Mortality in Severe Mental Illness: A Retrospective Matched Cohort Study
  8. The American Psychiatric Association Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Schizophrenia | American Journal of Psychiatry
  9. Canadian Consensus Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Autoimmune Encephalitis in Adults - PubMed
  10. Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis Clinical Practice Guideline | Neurology Clinical Practice
  11. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Post COVID-19 condition
  12. Cognitive and mental health outcomes in long covid | The BMJ
  13. Infections and severe mental illness: a population-based matched cohort study | BMJ Mental Health
  14. Association between COVID-19 infection and risk of mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis - ScienceDirect
  15. Neurocognitive and psychiatric outcomes associated with postacute COVID-19 infection without severe medical complication: a meta-analysis - PubMed
  16. Long-term risk of psychiatric disorder and psychotropic prescription after SARS-CoV-2 infection among UK general population | Nature Human Behaviour
  17. Outcomes of Critically Ill Adult Patients with Acute Encephalitis

Original Source(s)

Infections and severe mental illness: a population-based matched cohort study

  • by Sharon L Cadogan, Georgia R Gore-Langton, Kathryn E Mansfield, John Tazare, Seena Fazel, Ian J Douglas, Caroline Morton, Naaheed Mukadam, Charlotte Warren-Gash

  • May 27, 2026

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