FOLIC‐ACID DEFICIENCY IN PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS

Abstract

Serum folic-acid and vitamin B12 levels have been estimated and hæmatological investigations have been carried out for 411 psychiatric patients. Of the patients Investigated, 33·23% had folic-acid levels of 3·5 ng/ml or less, and showed also hæmatological changes in the peripheral blood, indicating folic-acid deficiency. Only five had serum vitamin B12 levels of 200 pg/ml or less. The possible causes for this widespread deficiency are briefly discussed. More detailed investigations are essential to determine the significance of folic-acid deficiency In psychiatric patients.