Low cholesterol significantly associated with increased depression

This study was published in Psychiatry Research 2001 Aug 5;103(1):93-6

 

Study title and author:

Biochemical markers of anxiety and depression.

Rafter D.

Hartstown Medical Centre, 2 Hazelwood Avenue, Hartstown, Clonsilla, 15, Dublin, Ireland.

 

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11472794

The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression is a multiple item questionnaire used to provide an indication of depression. A score of 0-7 is considered to be normal. Scores of 20 or higher indicate moderate, severe, or very severe depression.

This study investigated the association between cholesterol levels and depression. The research was carried out on a normal population in a primary care setting using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression.

The study found that those with low cholesterol scored significantly higher on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, thereby low cholesterol was significantly associated with higher rates of depression.