1Medical Laboratory Techniques, Dijlah University College, Iraq
2Al Rashad Training Hospital, Iraq
3Ibn-rushed Training Hospital, Iraq
*Corresponding Author: Ammar L. Khazaal, Ibn-rushed Training Hospital, Iraq, Email: ayadmj77@gmail.com
Online published on 23 December, 2019.
Depression is a global problem across the world with high morbidity. Abnormalities in the neuroendocrine, neurohypophyseal system and immune systems have been reported in depression. The possible connection of Oxytocin in psychiatric disorder might predict the risk of depression.
Estimation of Oxytocin level in individual could be at risk of depression according to their life style as a resident in nursing home and age compared with currently depressed patients and control volunteers and identify the correlation of Oxytocin concentration with the severity of depression.
Thirty three patients diagnosed with depression (21 male and 9 female). Thirty five normal control subjects (19 male and 11 female) and seventy volunteers who reside at nursing home (45 male and 25 female). ELISA technique used to measure the Oxytocin levels.
The study found that the Oxytocin value is reduced in patients with depressive disorder compared with control group and similarly values of the third group included in this study to depressive patients levels in which reduction of Oxytocin level. There is a significant association of decreased oxytocin with the severity of depression.
Low concentration of Oxytocin in both patients of depression and tested subjects as group at depression risk compared to normal control reveals that estimation of Oxytocin can be used for prediction of early onset of depression particularly in population with increased other risk factors of development of depressive disorders.
Depression risk, elderly Iraqi population, Oxytocin level
