6.21 Plasma Interleukin 1 Beta and Correlation With Anxiety Features in Youths With Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar spectrum disorders (BSDs) and anxiety disorders are highly comorbid. Furthermore, school avoidance behavior can be a presenting symptom in youths with underlying anxiety. Immune dysfunction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder, but the role of immune markers, such as proinflammatory cytokines in youths with bipolar disorder, has not been studied adequately. We aimed to examine the association of the proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), with anxiety symptoms and school avoidance behavior in youths with BSD.