Cytomegalovirus infection and IQ in patients with severe mental illness and healthy individuals

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in immunocompetent adults is usually asymptomatic, but results lifelong latency. Infection occurring congenitally or immunodeficiency can lead to cognitive impairment. We aimed investigate the associations between CMV exposure and intelligence quotient (IQ) patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SZS), bipolar (BDS) healthy controls (HC). immunoglobulin G antibody concentrations were measured by immunoassay expressed as dichotomous measures (seropositive/CMV+ vs. seronegative/CMV-). Based on a significant CMV-by-diagnosis-by-sex interaction IQ, we investigated main effects of sex IQ each diagnostic category. Significant CMV-by-sex interactions found patient groups. In SZS, CMV+ female (n = 50) had significantly lower than CMV- 33), whereas 48) 45) male did not differ IQ. BDS, 49) 37) 33) higher 32). Among HC, 138) 118) participants well 125) 93) Our findings suggest that may affect severe mental illness HC.