A Study of Vitamin D among Patients Presenting in the Psychiatric OPD of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara.

Background There have been growing interests in the association between vitamin D and depression in recent years. Objective The objective of this study was to find the prevalence of low vitamin D level in the patients suffering from depressive episodes. The next objective was to determine whether there are any statistically significant differences between the mean vitamin D levels of different sociodemographic variables and also to find the sociodemographic variables predicting the vitamin D level. Method The patients diagnosed as depressive episodes were selected from the out-patient unit of Department of Psychiatry of Manipal Teaching Hospital, Pokhara. The proforma was used to collect the sociodemographic profile of the patient. The diagnosis of depressive episode was made according to the International Classification of Disease-10 Classification of Mental and Behavioural Disorders: Diagnostic Criteria for Research. The serum vitamin D level of less than 30 ng/ml was considered as low level in this study. Result The prevalence of low vitamin level was found in 81.8%. The mean difference of vitamin D level was statistically significant in gender and marital status of the patients. The low mean vitamin level was found in the socio-demographic variables like in age above 60 years, Newar caste, female gender, separated from the spouse patients and in the patients living in the urban area as compared to other group of patients. The gender of the patients predicted vitamin D level in the depressed patients. Conclusion There is high prevalence of low vitamin D level in the depressed patients. The correction of low vitamin D level would be helpful in the holistic management of patient with depressive episodes.