Population-based longitudinal studies have reported that higher levels of IL-6 and CRP are associated with symptoms/diagnosis of depression, mania and psychosis subsequently in life (Gimeno et al., 2009; Hayes et al., 2017; Khandaker et al., 2014; Khandaker et al., 2017; Metcalf et al., 2017; Zalli et al., 2016), suggesting low-grade inflammation could be a cause for these illnesses, rather than simply being a consequence. This evidence concerns the gene CRP and major depressive disorder.