Infectious mononucleosis as a risk factor for depression: A nationwide cohort study

• Infectious mononucleosis is often associated with prolonged fatigue. The association depression was unclear since large-scale studies were lacking. This prospective cohort study included 12,510 individuals the infection. a 40% increased risk for depression. significant to period one year or later after clinical diagnosis characterized by fever, sore throat, lymph node enlargement and fatigue, most commonly caused Epstein-Barr virus Previous have indicated that infectious can be followed depression; however, are We used nationwide registry data investigate between subsequent in this first study. Prospective using Danish registers covering all 1,440,590 singletons born (1977–2005) Denmark parents (21,830,542 person-years’ follow-up until 2016); where had hospital contact mononucleosis. main outcome measures of major depressive disorder (ICD-8: 296.09, 298.09, 300.4; ICD-10: F32) requiring contact. hazard ratio (HR) fully adjusted model (HR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.26–1.56;n = 358), when compared unexposed individuals. being diagnosed periods four years 1.17–1.67;n 121) ? five 1.22–1.61;n 207). did not find any differences according age (p 0.61) nor sex 0.30). In largest date, childhood adolescence an Our findings important implications identifies youth as group at high young adulthood.