Folate Deficiency in Depressive Illness

Abstract

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 B 12 concentrations were also estimated.