Vitamin-D Deficiency among Psychiatric Outpatients Attending Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with various physical and mental illness. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among patients with psychiatric illness who visited Psychiatry outpatient department of College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital, Chitwan, Nepal and investigate association of vitamin D with clinical characteristics and psychiatric illness. Methods: A total of 129 who attended Psychiatry OPD of College of Medical Sciences and Teaching Hospital were enrolled over a period of 4 months after taking informed written consent. Psychiatric diagnoses were established by attending psychiatrists as part of the routine assessment using ICD 10/DCR criteria. Serum vitamin D was assessed by standard method. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Results: Among 129 participants, one hundred and seven patients (82.9%) showed vitamin D level below normal range. Thirty one (24%) had vitamin D deficiency, seventy six (58.9%) had vitamin D insufficiency and twenty two (17.1%) had normal vitamin D level. The mean level of vitamin D was 24.11± 10.19. However, there was no significant association noted between vitamin D state and socio demographic profile and psychiatric illness. Conclusions: We have found a high percentage of vitamin D deficiency among psychiatric patients in our study. Thus, screening for vitamin D deficiency should be considered as an important part of assessment of patients with major psychiatric illnesses.