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Homocysteine levels in schizophrenia patients newly admitted to an acute psychiatric ward

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2015

Rosaria Di Lorenzo ,
Alessandra Amoretti ,
Samantha Baldini ,
Marcello Soli ,
Giulia Landi ,
Gabriella Pollutri ,
Rossella Corradini  and
Paola Ferri
Rosaria Di Lorenzo*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, AUSL-MODENA, Servizio Psichiatrico di Diagnosi e Cura-Modena Centro, Baggiovara (Modena), Italy
Alessandra Amoretti
Affiliation:
Accredited Private Psychiatric Hospital, Villa Maria Luigia, Monticelli Terme (PR), Italy
Samantha Baldini
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, CPS, Viadana, ASL Mantova, Italy
Marcello Soli
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, Az.-USL, Corso Vallisneri, Scandiano (Reggio nell’Emilia), Italy
Giulia Landi
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Policlinico, Modena, Italy
Gabriella Pollutri
Affiliation:
School of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Policlinico, Modena, Italy
Rossella Corradini
Affiliation:
AUSL-MODENA, NOCSAE, Baggiovara (Modena), Italy
Paola Ferri
Affiliation:
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Policlinico, Modena, Italy
*
Rosaria Di Lorenzo, rua Muro, 92, 41100 Modena, Italia. Tel: +39-059-3962320; Fax: +39-059-3961379; E-mail: saradilorenzo1@alice.it
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Abstract

Objective

After the discovery of ‘homocystinuria syndrome’, many studies have suggested that high blood levels of homocysteine may be associated with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to analyse the association between hyperhomocysteinaemia and schizophrenia.

Methods

In a population of inpatients suffering from exacerbated schizophrenic disorders (N=100), we evaluated homocysteine levels the day after their admission to an acute psychiatric ward and compared it with that of a non-patient control group (N=110), matched for age and gender. We statistically analysed the correlation between homocysteine levels and selected variables: gender, age, years of illness and number of previous psychiatric admissions as well as Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, Positive Negative Syndrome Scale and Global Assessment Functioning (GAF) Scores.

Results

We observed elevated homocysteine levels (an increase of 7.84 µM on average per patient) in 32% of the patients, but we did not find any statistically significant difference between the homocysteine levels of our patients and controls. Hyperhomocysteinaemia presented a positive statistically significant correlation with years of illness (p<0.005) and a negative statistically significant correlation with GAF score (p<0.001), but not with other clinical variables.

Conclusions

Hyperhomocysteinaemia, which occurred in our schizophrenia patients with poor social and relational functioning after many years of illness, could represent an effect of altered lifestyle due to psychosis, but not a specific marker for schizophrenia.

Keywords

hyperhomocysteinaemiainpatientslifestyleschizophrenia
Type
Original Articles
Information
Acta Neuropsychiatrica , Volume 27 , Issue 6 , December 2015 , pp. 336 - 344
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Copyright
© Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology 2015 

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