Serum Uric Acid Level in Unipolar and Bipolar Depression

The purinergic system plays a role in the regulation of mood, motor activity, cognitive function, sleep, and behavior. Purinergic mechanisms can also play a role in various neuropsychiatric diseases. The objective of this study is to assess whether uric acid levels in patients with unipolar and bipolar depression are different in comparison to healthy controls and to determine the clinical parameters that can be associated with the uric acid level. This retrospective study consisted of 31 patients with major depressive disorder and 31 patients with bipolar disorder depressive episode and 31 healthy control subjects. The mean serum uric acid levels were found as follows: major depression patient group 4.56 (± 1.53) mg/dL, bipolar depression patient group 5.38 (± 1.43) mg/dL and control group 4.86 (± 1.56) mg/dL. There was no significant difference between patients and the control groups in terms of serum uric acid levels (P=0.075). Serum uric acid levels do not differ significantly in bipolar and unipolar depression. Also, there was no difference between patients and control. Therefore, studying the uric acid metabolism in major depression and bipolar disorder depressive episode according to the symptom severity with larger sample groups is suggested

Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in catatonia

There is growing evidence of subclinical inflammation in mental disorders. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate frequency of symptoms of catatonia and the newly diagnosed subclinical inflammatory markers which are neutrophil/lymphocyte (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte (PLR), monocyte/lymphocyte (MLR) ratios in catatonia patients due to mental disorders. Methods: Patients who were admitted to psychiatry clinic with the diagnosis of catatonia according to DSM 5 in the last two years and equal number of control group were included in this retrospective study. Univariate analysis of covariance controlled for possible confounders was used to compare NLR, PLR, MLR ratios between patients and the control group. Results: A total of 34 catatonia patients and 34 healthy controls were included in the study. Patients’ mean age was 30.88 + 13.4. NLR value was significantly higher in the patient group than control group. There was no significant difference between the patients and control group according to PLR, MLR values. Discussion: The presence of subclinical inflammation in catatonic syndrome due to mental disorders should be considered. Subclinical inflammation that was observed in numerous mental disorders continues in catatonia due to mental disorders. Large-scale studies are needed to determine the role of inflammation in catatonia