Systemic inflammation, executive function and mental health: bridging research and clinical perspectives

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dc.contributor.advisorMccusker, Chris
dc.contributor.advisorDockray, Samantha
dc.contributor.authorTothova, Karolinaen
dc.date.accessioned2025-10-06T10:33:24Z
dc.date.available2025-10-06T10:33:24Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.submitted2025
dc.description.abstractThis thesis investigates how systemic inflammation interacts with cognitive, psychological, and physical health outcomes, reflecting a growing recognition of its role across multiple domains of health. Systemic inflammation refers to a chronic, low-grade immune response that can influence brain function, behaviour, and physiology. While its role in physical conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders is well established, increasing evidence also links systemic inflammation to mental health difficulties and impaired executive functioning. Such findings carry implications for many disciplines, including clinical psychology, highlighting the potential value of inflammation-informed approaches to case formulation, assessment, and intervention—particularly in complex, comorbid presentations. This thesis comprises of two studies. Study 1 is a qualitative study which explored general practitioners’ (GPs’) experiences of supporting patients with concurrent obesity and common mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety. Addressing existing research gap, this study focused particularly on how GPs understand, deliver, and communicate lifestyle-based interventions, such as dietary changes and physical activity, that have potential to reduce inflammation. Study 2 is a scoping review mapping current empirical literature on the association between systemic inflammation and executive function in childhood and adolescence. explore which biopsychosocial moderators have been studied in relation to this association, and consider gaps and future directions to help inform early intervention and future clinical research.en
dc.description.statusNot peer revieweden
dc.description.versionAccepted Versionen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.citationTothova, K. 2025. Systemic inflammation, executive function and mental health: bridging research and clinical perspectives. DClinPsych Thesis, University College Cork.
dc.identifier.endpage194
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/17953
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity College Corken
dc.rights© 2025, Karolina Tothova.
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
dc.subjectSystemic inflammation
dc.subjectExecutive function
dc.subjectChildhood and adolescence
dc.subjectLifestyle interventions
dc.subjectMental health
dc.subjectObesity
dc.titleSystemic inflammation, executive function and mental health: bridging research and clinical perspectives
dc.typeDoctoral thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelPractitioner Doctorate
dc.type.qualificationnameDClinPsych - Doctor of Clinical Psychology
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