Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Neuropsychiatry

Vitamin D possibly helps in the regulation of neurotransmission, neuroprotection, and nerve growth factor synthesis. Therefore, a vitamin D deficiency might lead to inactivated receptors and a disruption to the pathway that may result in depression. To assess the relationship between serum level of vitamin D and clinical features of major depressive disorder including its severity, symptomatology, and cognitive dysfunction (memory and attention). Serum levels of 25- hydroxy vitamin D were measured with electo-chemiluminescence binding assay technique in 75 patients with major depressive disorder. The patients were recruited from Psychiatry and Addiction Hospital Kasr Al Ainy from the outpatient clinic. Patients were subjected to SCID, Hamilton depression scale, Mini-mental status examination, Wechsler memory subtests (story A and paired associate learning test), Benton visual retention test and Trail B test. 94.6% of patients had vitamin D deficiency (< 20 ng/ml); there was no significant correlation between levels of vitamin D and severity of depression according to HAM-D. Regarding depression symptoms there was a statistically significant difference (p= 0.032) between levels of vitamin D, being more deficient in the presence of genital symptoms (decreased libido and menstrual disturbances) and decreased concentration. There was also no statistically significant correlation between level of vitamin D and different psychometric tests (MMSE, trail B, story A, PALT and BVRT) although they were globally impaired. Major depressive disorder is strongly associated with vitamin D deficiency but no statistical significant correlation could be established between serum levels of vitamin D and severity of depression

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