title: Plasma homocysteine levels in depression and schizophrenia in South Indian Tamilian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyperhomocysteinemia has been associated with psychiatric diseases in non-Indian populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to determine if total plasma Homocysteine (Hcys) is associated with schizophrenia or depression in South Indian Tamil patients and if so, to correlate their severity and phenomenology to Hcys levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 patients each with schizophrenia and depression and 40 healthy controls were recruited from the psychiatry department of a quaternary referral centre. Association between Hcys and psychiatric disorders was determined using a Case- control design. Hcys levels were correlated with age, gender and severity and duration of the disease by appropriate statistical methods using SPSS17.
  
  
  METHODS
  Schizophrenia and depression were defined using ICD10 DCR version. Severity of depression was assessed by Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and that of schizophrenia using Positive and Negative Schizophrenia scales (PANSS). Hcys levels were determined using automated chemiluminiscence immunoassay (74-76).
  
  
  METHODS
  Differences between the mean values of plasma homocysteine levels among schizophrenia, depression and control groups were compared using analysis of variants. The association between the severity and duration of schizophrenia and depression and the plasma homocysteine levels were determine using Pearson correlation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Tamilian population, schizophrenia and depression are associated with total plasma Hcys levels which correlated with the duration and severity of psychosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Sunil K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Narayan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Arul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Shivanand
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kattimani
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Ananthanarayanan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Chandrasekaran
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Adithan
keywords: Depression; plasma homocysteine; schizophrenia