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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Psychiatry
Sec. Schizophrenia
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1380900

Homocysteine levels in first-episode patients with psychiatric disorders

Provisionally accepted
Ning Fan Ning Fan 1Wenxuan Zhao Wenxuan Zhao 1Yajun Yun Yajun Yun 1Luyuan Bai Luyuan Bai 1Huimei An Huimei An 1Qi Zhang Qi Zhang 2Jiangling Yan Jiangling Yan 1Fengmei Fan Fengmei Fan 1Xiaole Han Xiaole Han 1Fude Yang Fude Yang 1*
  • 1 Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
  • 2 Wuxi Mental Health Center, Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    A high homocysteine (Hcy) level is a risk factor for schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder. However, the role of hyperhomocysteinemia as either an independent factor or an auxiliary contributor to specific psychiatric symptoms or disorders remains unclear. This study aimed to examine Hcy levels in first-episode inpatients with psychotic symptoms and various psychiatric diseases to elucidate the association between Hcy levels and psychiatric disorders.This study enrolled 191 patients (aged 18-40 years) with psychiatric disorders. Seventy-five patients were diagnosed with schizophrenia, 48 with acute and transient psychotic disorders, 36 with manic episodes with psychosis, 32 with major depressive episodes with psychosis, and 56 healthy controls. Serum Hcy levels were measured using the enzyme cycle method. A Hcy concentration level of > 15 μmol/L was defined as hyperhomocysteinemia.Hcy levels were significantly higher in first-episode patients with psychiatric disorders compared to healthy controls (5.99 ± 3.60 vs. 19.78 ± 16.61 vs. 15.50 ± 9.08 vs. 20.00 ± 11.33 vs. 16.22 ± 12.06, F = 12.778, P < 0.001). Hcy levels were significantly higher in males with schizophrenia, acute and transient psychotic disorder, and major depressive disorder but not in mania [schizophrenia, (t = -4.727, P < 0.001); acute and transient psychotic disorders, (t = -3.389, P = 0.001); major depressive episode with psychosis, (t = -3.796, P < 0.001); manic episodes with psychosis, (t = -1.684, P = 0.101)]. However, serum Hcy levels were not significantly different among the psychiatric disorder groups (F = 0.139, P = 0.968). Multivariate linear regression showed that males had an increased risk for homocysteinemia. (95% CI = 8.192-15.370, P < 0.001).These results suggest that first-episode patients with psychiatric disorders have higher Hcy levels than in the general population, and men are at greater risk for psychiatric disorders. In conclusion, elevated Hcy levels may contribute to the pathogenesis of first-episode patients with psychotic symptoms.

    Keywords: Homocysteine, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, first-episode

    Received: 02 Feb 2024; Accepted: 01 May 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Fan, Zhao, Yun, Bai, An, Zhang, Yan, Fan, Han and Yang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Fude Yang, Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China

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