Depressive symptoms; association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Pakistani patients

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Depression is a leading source of disability world-wide with prevalence ranging from 8.8% to 18.3% in people aged 60 years or older. Depression is a not a simple term but has been used to describe a variety of infirmities, ranging from minor to debilitating. It is a multi-symptom disease and can even lead to suicidal attempt. Major depressive disorder [MDD], although one of the most common psychiatric illnesses, has an unknown etiology. Decreased serum levels of vitamin D have been implicated in the pathogenesis of MDD. Case control studies have supported a relationship between low vitamin D as possible predictors of depression. We designed a study to determine relationship, if any, between low vitamin D deficiency with depression and with severity of disease in our local population