Viral infections may play a critical role in triggering and exacerbating mental health disorders, particularly depression. By leveraging the extensive health, lifestyle data available in the UK Biobank, our study aims to explore whether a history of viral infections is associated with an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms and to examine the impact on the progression of depression. We will assess if individuals with a history of viral infection exhibit higher rates of depression compared to those without such a history, and investigate whether specific viruses, such as influenza and Herpes simplex virus, demonstrate varying strengths of association with depressive outcomes. Furthermore, our analyses will explore the potential influence of viral vaccination on either aggravating or mitigating depression, providing a valuable reference for related prevention strategies. Depression remains one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, and its complex etiology is not fully understood. Emerging research suggests that systemic inflammatory and immunological responses initiated by viral infections can alter neurological pathways, thereby influencing mood and cognitive function. The large-scale data from UK Biobank offers a good opportunity to account for socioeconomic, genetic, and lifestyle confounders while establishing a link between viral infection and depression. Ultimately, our study aims to clarify the role of viral infections in depression risk and progression, with the potential to inform targeted preventive measures, refine screening practices for at-risk individuals.
