title: Vitamin D Levels and Sociodemographic and Clinical Correlates in Individuals With Serious Mental Illness Admitted to an Acute Psychiatry Unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in psychiatric inpatients with serious mental illness. Associated clinical and sociodemographic factors are also explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected using a retrospective review of medical records. Eligible subjects were individuals aged ≥ 18 years who were consecutively newly admitted to an adult inpatient teaching unit of a state psychiatric hospital from July 2012 through August 2013. The main outcome measure was prevalence rate of vitamin D deficiency in the target population. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as a level < 20 ng/mL. Psychiatric diagnoses were established using DSM-IV-TR criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 85 subjects, approximately two-thirds (67%) had a vitamin D level < 20 ng/mL. The mean vitamin D level was 18.4 ng/mL. Among the sociodemographic and clinical factors analyzed, only total serum protein (odds ratio = 0.33; CI, 0.12-0.88; P < .05) was associated with vitamin D deficiency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency with all the attendant physical and mental health burdens in vulnerable populations such as individuals with serious mental illness requires further large research studies. In the meantime, it seems prudent to institute routine screening for vitamin D deficiency in individuals with mental illness, especially those who are hospitalized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Gerontology, University of North Texas, Denton (Dr Chekuri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock (Drs Chekuri, Thapa, Mittal, and Messias); Department of Psychiatry, Arkansas State Hospital, Little Rock (Dr Thapa); Gerontology Program, School of Social Work, University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Dr Turturro); and Veterans Administration South Central (VISN 16) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, Arkansas (Dr Mittal).
authors.forename: Lakshminarayana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chekuri
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Gerontology, University of North Texas, Denton (Dr Chekuri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock (Drs Chekuri, Thapa, Mittal, and Messias); Department of Psychiatry, Arkansas State Hospital, Little Rock (Dr Thapa); Gerontology Program, School of Social Work, University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Dr Turturro); and Veterans Administration South Central (VISN 16) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, Arkansas (Dr Mittal).
authors.forename: Purushottam B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Thapa
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Gerontology, University of North Texas, Denton (Dr Chekuri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock (Drs Chekuri, Thapa, Mittal, and Messias); Department of Psychiatry, Arkansas State Hospital, Little Rock (Dr Thapa); Gerontology Program, School of Social Work, University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Dr Turturro); and Veterans Administration South Central (VISN 16) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, Arkansas (Dr Mittal).
authors.forename: Carolyn L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Turturro
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Gerontology, University of North Texas, Denton (Dr Chekuri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock (Drs Chekuri, Thapa, Mittal, and Messias); Department of Psychiatry, Arkansas State Hospital, Little Rock (Dr Thapa); Gerontology Program, School of Social Work, University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Dr Turturro); and Veterans Administration South Central (VISN 16) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, Arkansas (Dr Mittal).
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Gerontology, University of North Texas, Denton (Dr Chekuri); Department of Psychiatry, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock (Drs Chekuri, Thapa, Mittal, and Messias); Department of Psychiatry, Arkansas State Hospital, Little Rock (Dr Thapa); Gerontology Program, School of Social Work, University of Arkansas at Little Rock (Dr Turturro); and Veterans Administration South Central (VISN 16) Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, Arkansas (Dr Mittal).
authors.forename: Erick
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Messias