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VOLUME 19 , ISSUE 1 ( January-June, 2025 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Serum Homocysteine Levels and Its Correlation with Executive Functions in Drug Naïve Patients of Depression: A Cross-sectional Study

Mrigakshi Parasor, Shramana Sengupta

Keywords : Cross-sectional study, Depression, Drug naïve, Executive functions, Homocysteine

Citation Information : Parasor M, Sengupta S. Serum Homocysteine Levels and Its Correlation with Executive Functions in Drug Naïve Patients of Depression: A Cross-sectional Study. Ind J Priv Psychiatry 2025; 19 (1):24-29.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10067-0183

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 19-02-2025

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2025; The Author(s).


Abstract

Background: Cognitive impairments, especially executive dysfunction are found to be impaired in patients with depression. Homocysteine is widely implicated in the pathophysiology of a variety of psychiatric disorders because it has a crucial role in cognitive functioning. The level of homocysteine in healthy, elderly individuals is being acknowledged as a risk factor for age-related cognitive impairments and dementia. Therefore, further research is required to understand its role in cognitive impairment, including executive dysfunction, common in depression. Aim: To estimate the level of serum homocysteine in drug naïve patients of depression and determine the correlation with executive functions in the patients. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study done on 50 drug naïve patients diagnosed with depression as per the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10) criteria. The patients were assessed using the sociodemographic and clinical proforma and their anthropometric measurements (height and weight) were taken. Assessment of the severity of depression was done using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D). Stroop test was used to assess executive functioning. Blood samples were collected to assess serum homocysteine levels. The correlation between serum homocysteine levels and executive functioning was determined using appropriate statistical methods. Results: The correlation between serum homocysteine levels and executive function in the study participants was found to be statistically insignificant. Conclusion: The correlation between serum homocysteine levels and executive functioning in drug naïve patients of depression was not found to be significant. Hence, the role of homocysteine as a predictor and therapeutic target for the impairment in executive functioning in patients of depression remains yet unclear. Clinical significance: Knowledge about the biological basis of executive dysfunction in depression may aid in the development of newer strategies for treatment as well as for monitoring treatment response.

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