Does Vitamin D matter? The role of calcium homeostasis imbalance in clinical severity of psychiatric patients

• Published in: European psychiatry Vol. 65; no. S1; pp. S278 - S279
• Main Authors: Altucci, G., Giannelli, L., Palummo, C., Di Cerbo, A., Agnese, S., Cipolla, S., Fabrazzo, M., Perris, F., Catapano, F., Luciano, M., Sampogna, G., Fiorillo, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Cambridge University Press 01.06.2022
• Subjects: Abstract; Calcium homeostasis; Clinical severity; E-Poster Presentation; Homeostasis; Psychiatric patients; Vitamin D
• ISSN: 0924-9338; 1778-3585
• DOI: 10.1192/j.eurpsy.2022.713

Introduction Vitamin D modulates the biosynthesis of neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors and it is involved in the modulation of inflammatory responses, with a potential impact on clinical status of patients with severe mental disorders. Moreover, available evidences report that decreased blood levels of Vitamin D are associated to a worse course of psychotic and affective disorders. Objectives We assessed calcium homeostasis imbalance in a sample of inpatients and outpatients, referring to the Department of Psychiatry of University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli” in order to explore levels of Calcium, PTH and Vitamin D and their influence in clinical severity among this different subgroups. Methods All patients were administered The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) to assess different domains of psychopathology. Vitamin D, Calcium and PTH levels were assessed in all patients. An-ad hoc schedule was administered for socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Results The total sample consisted of 152 patients (75 males and 77 females with 47.3 ± 14.4 age at admission, 74 inpatients and 78 outpatients). Patients with lower level of Vitamin D are more likely to present higher number of relapses (p<0.05) and to be inpatients (<0.01). Finally, serum levels of Vitamin D were negatively correlated with all the BPRS subscales (p < 0.01). Conclusions Lower levels of Vitamin D correlate with a worse clinical outcome of patients with different psychiatric diagnosis. Our results highlight the importance to routinely assess PTH, Vit D and calcium levels, especially in inpatients. Moreover, Vitamin D may represent a valid add-on treatment for these patients. Disclosure No significant relationships.