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Folate Deficiency in Depressive Illness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

E. H. Reynolds ,
J. M. Preece ,
J. Bailey  and
Alec Coppen
E. H. Reynolds
Affiliation:
The National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Queen Square, London, W.C.1, and the M.R.C. Neuropsychiatric Research Unit, Carshalton, and West Park Hospital, Epsom, Surrey
J. M. Preece
Affiliation:
West Park Hospital, Epsom, Surrey
J. Bailey
Affiliation:
The Neuropsychiatric Research Unit, Carshalton, and West Park, Epsom, Surrey
Alec Coppen
Affiliation:
The M.R.C. Neuropsychiatric Research Unit, Carshalton, and West Park Hospital, Epsom, Surrey
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Extract

Two reports have shown that a substantial proportion of patients suffering from various psychiatric syndromes have low serum folate concentrations (Hunter, Jones Jones and Matthews, 1967; Carney, 1967). The present investigation was concerned to examine further the prevalence of low serum folate in a series of depressive patients on admission to hospital. As folate deficiency contributes to the development of mental symptoms in epileptic patients (Reynolds, 1968), we also examined the relationship of low serum folate concentrations to the severity of the depressive illness, certain personality traits, and the response to anti-depressant treatment. The relationship of low serum folate to variables which could influence it such as diet and drugs was also examined. In a proportion of these patients serum folate measurements were repeated just before the patient's discharge. Serum B12 concentrations were also estimated.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 117 , Issue 538 , September 1970 , pp. 287 - 292
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1970 

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