Trace metal profiling in patients with depression in Pakistani population

To determine level of trace metals in patients with depression in order to explore any association between the two.

The case-control study was conducted at the Department of Chemical Pathology and Endocrinology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and Armed Forces Institute of Mental Health, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from January to December 2017, and comprised diagnosed cases of depression with equal number of age- and gender-matched controls. Depression was diagnosed by a consultant psychiatrist as per the International Classification of Diseases version 10 / Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders -IV criteria and a self-reported depression screening through Siddiqui-Shah Depression Scale. Blood samples were collected from each subject for the measurement of metals like zinc, chromium and copper. Data was analysed using SPSS 24.

Of the 370 subjects, there were 185(50%) in each of the two groups. There were 82(44.3%) males and 103(55.7%) females among the cases with an overall mean age of 37.75±11.49 years, and 65(35.1%) males and 120(64.9%) females with an overall mean age of 39.38±12.56 years among the controls. Mean levels of zinc and copper were significantly different between the groups (p<0.05), while the difference was non-significant for chromium (p>0.05). Equivocal prevalence of depression was present between males and females (p=0.04) without any significant age group association (p=1.92).

Blood level of serum zinc and copper were found to be associated with depression.