Correlation of serum homocysteine level with psychiatric symptoms and social ability in patients with schizophrenia / 中国基层医药

ABSTRACT

Objective:To correlate serum homocysteine (Hcy) level with psychiatric symptoms and social ability in patients with schizophrenia.Methods:A total of 143 patients with schizophrenia who received treatment in the Third Hospital of Quzhou from January 2018 to January 2020 were included in this study. They were randomly divided into abnormal Hcy group (Hcy ≥ 10) μmol/L, n = 46) and normal Hcy group (Hcy < 10 μmol/L, n = 97) according to different serum Hcy levels. Baseline data, the scores of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), and the Substance Dependence Severity Scale (SDSS) were compared between the two groups. The correlation between serum Hcy level and psychiatric symptoms and social ability was analyzed using the Pearson correlation analysis. Results:PANSS total score and BPRS total score were (77.86 ± 8.37) points and (94.47 ± 9.36) points, respectively in the abnormal Hcy group, and (74.37 ± 7.94) points and (90.35 ± 9.26) points, respectively in the normal Hcy group. There were significant differences in PANSS total score and BPRS total score between the two groups ( t = 2.41, 2.47, both P < 0.05). SDSS total score was significantly higher in the abnormal Hcy group than in the normal Hcy group [(11.75 ± 2.38) points vs. (10.53 ± 2.28) points, t = 2.88, P < 0.05]. Pearson correlation analysis showed that serum Hcy level was positively correlated with PANSS positive subscale score ( r = 0.73, P < 0.001), general mental symptom score ( r = 0.43, P = 0.032) and PANSS total score ( r = 0.53, P = 0.027), but it was not correlated with PANSS negative symptom score ( P > 0.05). Serum Hcy level was positively correlated with BPRS excitement subscale score ( r = 0.42, P = 0.037) and hostility subscale score ( r = 0.37, P = 0.047), but it was not correlated with anxiety, blunted affect, unusual thought content subscale scores and BPRS total score (all P > 0.05). Conclusion:Serum Hcy level is correlated with psychiatric symptoms and social ability in patients with schizophrenia. The higher the level of Hcy, the more severe the psychiatric symptoms, and the higher the degree of social disability.