ABSTRACT
Background: Folate is a naturally occurring B vitamin, is needed in the brain for the synthesis of norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine. Thus, previous researches suggested that folate levels play an important role in the etiology and course of depression. However, the literature has been inconsistent regarding differences in folate level between individuals with and without depression. The present meta-analysis synthesized the results of previous studies to examine whether individuals with depression had lower levels of folate than individuals without depression
Aim of the Study: to assess the relationship between Depression and Folate deficiency
Methods: A review of the scientific literature [PubMed Search 1994 to 2017] Pubmed, Embase and CENTRAL were searched to identify randomized controlled trials that investigated The Correlation between Depression and Folate Deficiency as the primary outcome. Identification of papers and data extraction was performed by two independent researchers. We searched for relevant trials in the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE [from 1946], Embase [from 1974], the Transfusion Evidence Library [from 1980], and ongoing trial databases; all searches current to October 2017
Results: 8 studies were included enrolling 173000 participants; 1813 patients with depression and 15487 control subjects. Pooling of all estimates showed a significant correlation between folate status and depression [OR pooled unadjusted=1.41; 95% CI 1.19 to 1.82], [OR pooled adjusted=1.39; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.76]
Conclusion: Low folate and B12 serum levels seem to be associated with depression Folate has been linked to depression and there is a strong body of evidence suggesting the introduction of folate supplement in the prevention and treatment of depression at the population and individual levels
ABSTRACT
Background: Bipolar disorder is a chronic relapsing and mostly severe psychiatric disorder accompanied with a significant psychiatric comorbidity, considerable role impairment, and significant risk of suicide attempts according to recent researches. Mood stabilizers and antipsychotic medications have proved to be effective in managing symptoms for many patients. Nevertheless, medication noncompliance for some patients is a raising concerns. Additional risk for increased symptom severity and relapse when subjected to high levels of psychosocial stress, such as living in a negative family environment has also been reported. Psychosocial treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy [CBT] and family-focused therapy [FFT] were hence introduced in hope of an integrated strategy for the management of bipolar disorder
Objective of the Study: This article is intended to review the optimal approach for the management of bipolar disorder. Advances in biopsychosocial treatments are also briefly reviewed, including new health service models for providing care
Methods: Electronic search in the scientific database from 1960 to 2017- The studies in this comprehensive review were selected for inclusion based on clinical relevance, importance, and robustness of data related to diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder. The search terms that were initially used on MEDLINE/PubMed and Google Search terms included "bipolar disorder," "mania," "bipolar depression," "mood stabilizer," "atypical antipsychotics," and "antidepressants." High-quality, recent reviews of major relevant topics were included to supplement the primary studies
Results: Bipolar disorder is a major public health concern. Management includes a lifetime course of medication and attention to psychosocial issues for patients and their families. Standardized treatment guidelines for the management of acute mania have been developed. New potential treatments are being investigated
Conclusion: Bipolar disorder have a very dynamic and chronic nature and thus, careful selection of a treatment should be tailored to the phases of the disorder, together with the safety profile identified in clinical trials. Nevertheless, Psychosocial interventions, such as CBT and FFT should be employed in combination with pharmacological therapy for bipolar patients in order to increase medication compliance, decrease depressive symptoms and recognize early warning signs of an affective episode should ideally help to optimize the course and outcome of this devastating condition