title: Magnesium in drug-naïve patients with a short-duration, first episode of major depressive disorder: impact on psychopathological features.
abstract: Plasma magnesium concentration changes are seen in major depressive disorder (MDD). Dysregulation of magnesium homeostasis is associated with the severity of depression and specific psychopathological features including apathy, anxiety, irritability, fatigue and weakness. Results from studies on magnesium concentrations in MDD patients are inconsistent, and the evidence for magnesium ions being associated with specific features of depression and anxiolytic effects is unclear. This study was designed to examine whether and to what extent plasma magnesium is related to the psychopathological features of depression including severity of symptoms and specific psychopathological aspects. Plasma magnesium levels were studied in this cross-sectional, case-control study and involved 20, non-late-life adults who were treatment-naïve, short- duration, first episode, MDD patients, and 20 age- and sex-matched, healthy controls. Psychometric evaluations were performed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). A significantly higher magnesium (p = 0.016) concentration was observed in MDD patients compared to controls. No significant correlations were observed between magnesium concentrations and the total HAMD-17 score or with regard to the specific core depression, insomnia, anxiety or somatic HAM-D psychopathological features. In addition, no significant correlations were found between magnesium concentrations and STAIX-1 and STAIX-2 scores. The present study provides evidence of hypermagnesaemia in drug-naïve patients with a short-duration, first episode of MDD. A cross-sectional analysis adds to the evidence linking plasma magnesium concentrations with psychopathology of MDD during early stages of the disease although with no correlations between plasma magnesium concentrations and psychopathology including severity of symptoms and specific psychopathological features.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: Wiesław Jerzy
authors: WJ
authors: Cubała
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Landowski
authors: Department of Toxicology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: Małgorzata
authors: M
authors: Szyszko
authors: Department of Toxicology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors: Wojciech
authors: W
authors: Czarnowski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003710:Demography; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium
keywords: drug-naïve individuals; magnesium; major depressive disorder; psychopathology