Comparison of Mean Vitamin B12 Levels Among Patients with Mild To Moderate and Severe Depression, Using Hamilton Depression Rating Scal

Assam Muhammad Bin  Sharif; Sohail  Ali; Ayesha  Shabbir; Zoonash Zara  Pervez; Maria Ahmed  Khan; Razi Ur Rehman  Gohar

doi:10.51253/pafmj.v75i3.10236

Authors

Assam Muhammad Bin Sharif Department of Psychiatry, Armed Forces Institute of Mental Health/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Sohail Ali Department of Psychiatry, Armed Forces Institute of Mental Health/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Ayesha Shabbir Department of Psychiatry, Armed Forces Institute of Mental Health/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Zoonash Zara Pervez Department of Gastroenterology, Pak Emirates Military Hospital/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS), Rawalpindi Pakistan
Maria Ahmed Khan Department of Psychiatry, Armed Forces Institute of Mental Health/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan
Razi Ur Rehman Gohar Department of Psychiatry, Armed Forces Institute of Mental Health/National University of Medical Sciences (NUMS) Rawalpindi Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51253/pafmj.v75i3.10236

Keywords:

Depressive Disorder, HAM-D scale, Vitamin B12 deficiency

Abstract

Objective: To assess vitamin B12 deficiency and compare mean levels among patients with mild to moderate, and severe depression, using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.

Study Design: Analytical cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Armed Forces Institute of Mental Health (AFIMH), Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from Aug to Mar 2021.

Methodology: A total of 260 patients with diagnosed clinical depression with intensity ranging from mild to moderate, and severe, as per Hamilton Depression Rating (HAM-D) Scale, were included in this study. Patients were enrolled from the Outpatient Department of AFIMH and Depression Severity Scores (HAM-D score) and serum vitamin B12 levels were recorded for all participants.

Results: The average age of participants was 42.37±12.55 years. There were 105(40.38%) male and 155(59.62%) female patients. Out of 260 patients with depression, 185(71.15%) had mild to moderate depression and 75(28.85%) had severe depression. Frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency among patients with depression was 186(71.54%) while mean vitamin B12 levels were significantly higher in patients with severe depression as compared to patients with mild to moderate depression [245.53±63.98 vs. 173.39±51.97; p=0.0005].

Conclusion: We found that patients with depressive disorders commonly have vitamin B12 deficiencies correlating with mild to moderate depressive symptoms.

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