Publication: A Study of Vitamin D among Patients Presenting in the Psychiatric OPD of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara
Date
2019
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
There have been growing interests in the association between vitamin D and
depression in recent years.
Objective
The objective of this study was to find the prevalence of low vitamin D level in the
patients suffering from depressive episodes. The next objective was to determine
whether there are any statistically significant differences between the mean
vitamin D levels of different sociodemographic variables and also to find the socio-
demographic variables predicting the vitamin D level.
Method
The patients diagnosed as depressive episodes were selected from the out-patient
unit of Department of Psychiatry of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara. The proforma
was used to collect the sociodemographic profile of the patient. The diagnosis
of depressive episode was made according to the International Classification of
Disease-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Diagnostic Criteria for
Research. The serum vitamin D level of less than 30 ng/ml was considered as low
level in this study.
Result
The prevalence of low vitamin level was found in 81.8%. The mean difference of
vitamin D level was statistically significant in gender and marital status of the patients.
The low mean vitamin level was found in the socio-demographic variables like in age
above 60 years, Newar caste, female gender, separated from the spouse patients and
in the patients living in the urban area as compared to other group of patients. The
gender of the patients predicted vitamin D level in the depressed patients.
Conclusion
There is high prevalence of low vitamin D level in the depressed patients. The
correction of low vitamin D level would be helpful in the holistic management of
patient with depressive episodes.
KEY WORDS
Depression, Prevalence, Vitamin D
Description
Khattri JB,1 Godar ST,2 Subedi A1
1Department of Psychiatry,
2Department of Ophthalmology,
Manipal College of Medical Sciences,
Pokhara, Nepal
Keywords
Depression, Prevalence, Vitamin D