Investigating psychosocial factors and systemic inflammation using dried blood spots: a scoping review

This scoping review has two primary aims: (1) to synthesize U.S.-based studies utilizing dried blood spot (DBS) sampling to examine associations between psychosocial factors and systemic inflammation, as measured by C-reactive protein (CRP), and (2) to evaluate the methodological utility of DBS for advancing inclusive, population-based biomarker research. We explore DBS adoption, variability in methods and findings, and how this approach can enhance understanding of health disparities driven by psychosocial stressors.

A comprehensive search of databases including MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL Plus, and PsycINFO was conducted. Inclusion criteria encompassed U.S.-based studies employing DBS sampling to quantify CRP in relation to psychosocial factors. Studies were categorized into four domains: socioeconomic and neighborhood contexts, adverse life events and trauma, social experiences and interpersonal dynamics, and mental health and emotional well-being. Data were extracted, synthesized, and narratively analyzed.

Thirty studies met inclusion criteria, with sample sizes ranging from 20 to 13,236. Key findings indicated strong associations between psychosocial stressors (e.g., discrimination, social isolation) and elevated CRP. Few studies conducted sex- or gender-based analyses. DBS was particularly effective for research in underrepresented populations, enabling cost-effective, minimally invasive sampling in diverse and resource-limited settings.

This review highlights DBS as an important tool for psychiatric biomarker research, offering scalability and inclusivity. Findings affirm the link between psychosocial factors and systemic inflammation, suggesting avenues for targeted interventions. Future research should explore additional biomarkers and psychosocial determinants with sex stratified analyses to better understand inflammation-related health disparities.