1. AND MENTAL HEALTH By Doreen Rasp, APN
LYME DISEASE
AND MENTAL HEALTH
By Doreen Rasp, APN

2. Hmmmm….
One cause of CNS inflammation and subsequent mental illness is thought to be represented by an infective organisms including viruses and bacteria.
Raymond, S. (2016). Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research

3. Lyme Disease
Caused from a bite from an infected tick, that releases a spirochete into your system.
Most common tick borne illness in the United States and Europe.

4. Spirochete
Spiral shaped bacteria, often extremely pathogenic causing diseases such as Lyme or Syphilis. Borrelia burgdorferi (most common causative agent)

5. Variety of Diseases carried by ticks…
Babesiosis is caused by microscopic parasites that infect red blood cells. Most human cases of babesiosis in the U.S. are caused by Babesia microti. Babesia microti is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) and is found primarily in the northeast and upper midwest. Borrelia mayonii infection has recently been described as a cause of illness in the upper midwestern United States. It has been found in blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Borrelia mayonii is a new species and is the only species besides B. burgdorferi known to cause Lyme disease in North America. Ehrlichiosis is transmitted to humans by the lone star tick (Ambylomma americanum), found primarily in the southcentral and eastern U.S.

6. Lyme disease is transmitted by the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) in the northeastern U.S. and upper Midwestern U.S. and the western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) along the Pacific coast.
Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is transmitted by the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), Rocky Mountain wood tick (Dermacentor andersoni), and the brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sangunineus) in the U.S. The brown dog tick and other tick species are associated with RMSF in Central and South America.
(see attached handout)

7. Early Symptoms of Lyme/Tick Borne Disease
Flu like symptoms, including fever, chills, malaise, nausea, joint pain, and possible rash (bulls eye, 30-80%)

8. Late Symptoms of Lyme/Tick Borne Disease
Can occur if NOT diagnosed or if NOT adequately treated when diagnosed:
Chronic Fatigue/Brain Fog
Joint/Muscle Pain
Insomnia
Depression, Anxiety, OCD & Irritability
Cardiac Issues
Headaches

10. Inflammation
A protective tissue response to injury or destruction of tissues, which serves to destroy, dilute, or wall off both the injurious agent and the injured tissues. The classical signs of acute inflammation are pain (dolor), heat (calor), redness (rubor), swelling (tumor), and loss of function.
But, we cannot always SEE inflammation.
(Robert Bransfield, MD, 2015)

11. Inflammation
Inflammation is a part of the acute stress response and sickness syndrome. It is beneficial and facilitates adaptation to an acute environmental or physiological stressor. However, in the presence of persistent stressors and adaptive failure chronic inflammation persists and has a gradually increasing degenerative effects. Chronic inflammation in the body can result in chronic inflammation in the brain with an increasing deleterious effect upon brain functioning
(Robert Bransfield, MD, 2015)

12. When spirochete is in your system, your body initiates a protective immune response, which in turn causing inflammation, which triggers an array of issues and symptoms.
Remember, inflammation can be good and bad.

13. Inflammation can be part of a necessary cascade of events enabling the body to defend itself against something it believes to be potentially harmful
When inflammation becomes chronic its effects can be toxic to ALL of our own cells (does not discriminate)
This can lead to illness in body systems other than where the infection/inflammatory first began
When the inflammation affects the nervous system, mental health disorders can present themselves or become aggravated in those with pre-existing mental health conditions.
…….Lyme disease produces local and systemic inflammation

14. Immune System and Nervous System
Communicate with each other.
Both respond to danger
Both have early, innate, as well as long term learned adaptive mechanisms
Pathology occurs with failure to adapt or excessive reactivity to danger or adaptive mechanisms gone awry, or chronic trauma from chronic reactivity to chronic stressors
(Robert Bransfield, MD, 2015)

15. How are inflammation and mental health connected?
Inflammatory agents induce mental symptoms (triggering inflammatory response in the brain)
Inflammatory markers are elevated in mental disorders
Biochemistry
Immune dysfunction adversely impact brain development (think long term effects)
(Robert Bransfield, MD, 2015)

16. Stress & Insomnia/Non restorative sleep
As a result of chronic inflammation & illness, as well contributes to disease perpetuation & are associated with:
Decreased regenerative functioning
Compromised immunity (compounding the problem)
Decreased resistance to infectious disease – Fatigue
(Robert Bransfield, MD, 2015)

17. Non restorative sleep contributes to:
Fatigue
Cognitive Impairment
Emotional Impairment
Pain Sensitivities
Increase Immune Dysfunction
(Robert Bransfield, MD, 2015)

18. Disease Progression Directly correlated to: Degree of sleep disorder
Degree of fatigue
Cognitive Impairment
Depression
Anxiety
Pain
If an inflammatory disease process underway (i.e. Lyme), and you either have, or develop above symptoms, their existence promotes disease progression (once again with the vicious cycle)

19. General Facts:
Very few are born with pre-disposition for mental illness Not everyone responds to inflammation the same way In those suffering from mental illness, blood tests show evidence of inflammatory markers in their blood, indicating an inflammatory state

20. Things to Consider…
Prevention from Tick Bites (Clothing, Insect Repellent) Boost your immune system (via diet, exercise and natural supplements) Do not ever ignore symptoms (physical or mental)

21. Take Home Points for Lyme Patient
Accurate/Early Diagnosis & Treatment Find a provider that will listen to you, support the potential connection between Lyme and Mental Health concerns Lifestyle changes to reduce stress, promote relaxation Discuss with your provider anti inflammatory dietary and supplemental options to reduce inflammation and boost your immune system

22. References:
Slide 2: Slide 8: disease/symptoms/ Robert Bransfield, MD; 21st Annual International Integrative Medicine Conference, July 18, 2015

23. ANY QUESTIONS? Thank you- Doreen Rasp APN
Psychiatric and Family Nurse Practitioner