THE ROLE OF FOLIC ACID IN THE TREATMENT OF MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER

Abstract

Objective: Depressive symptoms are the most common neuropsychiatric manifestation of folic acid deficiency. The objective of this research is to determine the role of folic acid in the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). Method: 60 outpatients with MDD and matched 30 healthy controls constituted the sample. The Personal Information Form was used to determine the sociodeniographic features of the patient and the control groups. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and the criteria of MDD of DSM-IV were used to diagnos the MDD. 30 of the outpatients randomly selected as first group they were given fluoxetine (20 mgs per day), the remainders we given fluoxeline (20 mgs per day) and folic acid (5 mgs per day) as the second group. HDRS was applied lo the patients in 7^th, 14^th, 28^th, 42^th days and to the three groups at the beginning, and was measured serum folic acid levels 0 ^th, 14^th,. 28 ^th, 42^th days. After calculating HDRS scores and serum folic acid levels, the data were run on SPSS. The following statistical analyses were used in order to evaluate the data: variance analysis, student's t test. Mann-Whitney U test and Tukey's test. Result At the beginning, HDRS scores of first, second and control groups were 29.10, 26.93, 7.90 respectively. The mean serum folate levels were lower in the first and the second groups than It, controls. The decrease of HDRS scores were found to be faster in the second group than the first group. However, in 42^nd day, the difference between HDRS scores of the two groups was not significant statistically. Conclusion: As a result, one can say that adding folate to the treatment of MDD may reduce the occurrence and duration of MDD and increase the efficiency of antidepressant treatment.