This lecture explores the vital intersection between inflammation, immune dysregulation, and mood symptoms. Designed for mental health and healthcare professionals, the training explores how prolonged physiological stress and systemic illness, such as post-infectious syndromes, metabolic and autoimmune conditions can disrupt key brain regions including the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex.

Participants will review red flags for inflammatory driven mood dysregulation, learn how illness may impair neurotransmitter pathways, and examine how the kynurenine cascade contributes to excitotoxicity, GABA deficiency, and mood symptoms. These neuroimmune processes will be contextualized through clinical case examples and up-to-date research on central and periphery crosstalk.

The lecture also delves into novel treatment strategies aimed at restoring neurochemical balance in inflammation-linked mood disorders. From glutamate-modulating agents like lamotrigine, to immune-based therapies including TNF-α inhibitors and metabolic modulators, attendees will gain an evidence-based roadmap for considering inflammation-related emotional and cognitive dysregulation. The course also highlights non-pharmacological adjuncts such as mindfulness practice’s role in reducing inflammatory markers. Participants will explore how social determinants, including trauma, chronic stress and limited access to care can intensify vulnerability to mood disorders. This integrative training provides actionable insights for clinicians seeking to enhance outcomes in complex mood presentations influenced by neuroimmune crosstalk.