The Effect of Vitamin D3 on Depression in Iranian Women
Published: August 1, 2018 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2018/35716.11870
Zeinab Mehrabani Far, Mehdi Rahnema, Hussein Qafelehbashi
1. Postgraduate Student, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran.
2. Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran.
3. Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Qazvin university of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
Correspondence
Zeinab Mehrabanifar,
Postgraduate Student, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran.
E-mail: md.yar88@yahoo.com
Introduction: Depression is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses that it associated with a variety of symptoms, high rates of relapse, and many physical and psychological disorders.
Aim: To determine the effect of vitamin D3 supplements on depression in women referred to health centres in Qazvin, Iran.
Materials and Methods: Overall, 374 patients were evaluated with Beck's depression test. A total of 65 patients were included in the study after they were diagnosed with moderate and severe depression. Individuals with moderate depression were divided into two groups: 1) Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT); and 2) CBT plus vitamin D3 (50,000 units of eight tablets for eight weeks). Subjects with severe depression were divided into two groups: 1) drug therapy; and 2) drug therapy plus vitamin D3. Beck's test and vitamin D3 blood sample measurements were performed before and eight weeks after intervention. Independent sample t-test was used to compare the means of control and intervention groups.
Results: Depression scores of patients in post-test stage were significantly lower than depression scores of patients in pre-test stage in all intervention methods (p<0.01). Mean depression score (11.4±2.5) of patients in post-test stage of intervention with CBT plus vitamin D3 was significantly lower than the depression score (14.7±2.7) of patients in post-test stage of intervention with CBT (p<0.05). The difference of mean depression scores in post-test stage of drug therapy (20.4±3.7) and drug therapy plus vitamin D3 (15.8±3.3) intervention methods was significant (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The use of vitamin D3 supplements can be helpful in the treatment of depression in women.
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