Evaluation Of Serum Calcium Level In Patients With Depression Having Suicidal Behaviour And In Depression Patients Without Suicidal Behaviour: A Case Control Study

Abstract

Introduction: Depression is a psychiatric disorder characterized by depressed mood, loss of interest in activities and loss of energy that lasts for two weeks or more. The lifetime prevalence of depression is 16.2%. More severe forms of depression can lead to suicide. Micronutrients are associated with mental health status include B complex vitamins, vitamin D, copper, zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Calcium performs neurophysiological functions, such as release of neurotransmitters from synaptic terminals, transmission of nerve impulses, regulates short-term neuronal plasticity. Calcium coordinates fast metabolic responses to increased neuronal activity.

Aims & Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate serum calcium level in patients with depression having suicidal behaviour (suicidal attempts or suicidal ideation) and depression patients without suicidal behaviour.

Materials & Methods: This study was conducted at a government medical college of Madhya Pradesh. Study included 100 diagnosed patients of depression with suicidal behaviour (case group) and age-gender matched 100 diagnosed patients of depression without suicidal behaviour (control group), attending Psychiatry OPD. The subjects were enrolled for the study after taking ethics committee approval and obtaining written consent. The data collected was expressed as mean ± SD and analysed by using SPSS version 22. P-value of < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.

Results: The mean serum calcium for depression patients with suicidal behaviour was 8.97 ± 0.83mg/dl, while for depression patients without suicidal behaviour it was 10.09 ± 0.53mg/dl. The serum calcium decreases as the severity of depression increases with in both the groups. Statistically significant and negative correlation between suicidal scores and serum calcium levels in patients of depression with suicidal behaviour.

Conclusion: Decreased blood calcium levels are associated with more severe depression in both the study groups according to this study’s results. Therefore, it may be crucial to determine serum calcium levels in patients of depression early on so that these patients may get the right treatment and reduce the risk of suicidal behaviour and other morbidities associated with major depressive disorder.