Vitamin D deficiency in first episode psychosis: A case-control study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Vitamin D deficiency in first episode psychosis

T2 - A case-control study

AU - Crews, Matthieu

AU - Lally, John

AU - Gardner-Sood, Poonam

AU - Howes, Oliver

AU - Bonaccorso, Stefania

AU - Smith, Shubulade

AU - Murray, Robin M.

AU - Di Forti, Marta

AU - Gaughran, Fiona

PY - 2013/11

Y1 - 2013/11

N2 - Background: Vitamin D deficiency is seen in a high proportion of people with established psychotic disorders, but it is not known if this is present at onset of the illness. We set out to examine vitamin D levels in people with their first episode of psychosis (FEP). Method: We conducted a matched case-control study to examine vitamin D levels and rates of vitamin D deficiency in sixty nine patients presenting with their FEP and sixty nine controls matched for age, sex and ethnicity. Differences between groups were tested using student's-t tests, paired t-tests and odds ratios for further analysis. Results: Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in cases than in controls (p <0.001). The odds ratio of being vitamin D deficient was 2.99 in the FEP group relative to the control group. There was no correlation between vitamin D levels and length of hospitalisation in the patient group (r = -0.027, p = 0.827). Conclusions: We found higher rates of vitamin D deficiency in people with FEP compared to matched controls. Given that vitamin D is neuroprotective; that developmental vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for psychosis, and that incipient psychosis may affect lifestyle factors and diet, future studies are required to examine this association further. In the meantime, there is a need for more widespread testing of vitamin D levels in FEP and for the development of appropriate management strategies.

AB - Background: Vitamin D deficiency is seen in a high proportion of people with established psychotic disorders, but it is not known if this is present at onset of the illness. We set out to examine vitamin D levels in people with their first episode of psychosis (FEP). Method: We conducted a matched case-control study to examine vitamin D levels and rates of vitamin D deficiency in sixty nine patients presenting with their FEP and sixty nine controls matched for age, sex and ethnicity. Differences between groups were tested using student's-t tests, paired t-tests and odds ratios for further analysis. Results: Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in cases than in controls (p <0.001). The odds ratio of being vitamin D deficient was 2.99 in the FEP group relative to the control group. There was no correlation between vitamin D levels and length of hospitalisation in the patient group (r = -0.027, p = 0.827). Conclusions: We found higher rates of vitamin D deficiency in people with FEP compared to matched controls. Given that vitamin D is neuroprotective; that developmental vitamin D deficiency may be a risk factor for psychosis, and that incipient psychosis may affect lifestyle factors and diet, future studies are required to examine this association further. In the meantime, there is a need for more widespread testing of vitamin D levels in FEP and for the development of appropriate management strategies.

KW - First episode psychosis

KW - Schizophrenia

KW - 25-Hydroxyvitamin D

KW - Vitamin D deficiency

KW - Case-control study

KW - Ethnicity

KW - MULTIPLE HEALTH OUTCOMES

KW - CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE

KW - HYPOVITAMINOSIS-D

KW - D INSUFFICIENCY

KW - SCHIZOPHRENIA

KW - RISK

KW - POPULATION

KW - 25-HYDROXYVITAMIN-D

KW - SMOKING

KW - DIETARY

KW - Acknowledged-BRC

KW - Acknowledged-BRC-13/14

U2 - 10.1016/j.schres.2013.08.036

DO - 10.1016/j.schres.2013.08.036

M3 - Article

SN - 0920-9964

VL - 150

SP - 533

EP - 537

JO - Schizophrenia Research

JF - Schizophrenia Research

IS - 2-3

ER -