Abstract Background Inflammatory factors are associated with depression. We seek to investigate the correlation between inflammatory cytokines and prognosis of depression or suicidal ideation and behavior at 3 months in depression patients. Methods Eighty-two depressed outpatients were recruited and treated as usual. Plasma cytokines were measured at baseline. Patients were followed up with Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and suicidal ideation and behavior according to the item 3 of Hamilton depression scale for 3 months. Results Compared to the depression patients with low level of interleukin-1β, the high one had severe depressive symptoms at month 2 and 3 (B 0.92, P