Bone mineral density in patients with depression

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Erdal, Akın^{; *} | Yildirim, Kadir | Karatay, Saliha

Affiliations: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Dr. Akın Erdal, Atatürk University, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey. Tel.: +90 442 2331122 1660; Fax: +90 442 23613 01; E-mail: aerdal67@hotmail.com

Abstract: Objective:Depression is a common disorder affecting 5–9% of women and 1–2% of men. Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by bone fragility and increased risk of bone fracture There might be some behavioral and neuroendocrine system changes in depression which are risk factors for decreased bone mineral density. This study was performed to determine whether women with current or past major depression have demonstrable decreases in bone density. Methods:We measured bone mineral density at the hip and spine in 20 premenopausal women with past or current major depression and 20 premenopausal healthy women matched for age and body-mass index and using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results:The mean BMD values at lumbar region were 0.93 ± 0.09 gr/cm2 for the patient group and 0.98 ± 0.04 gr/cm2 for the control group. And the mean BMD values at left hip region were 0.85 ± 0.14 gr/cm2 for the patient group and 0.92 ± 0.07 gr/cm2 for the control group. The mean BMD values at lumbar region and at left hip region in patient group were both statistically lower than controls (p< 0.05). Conclusions:We concluded that patients with past or current major depression may have low bone mineral density so this may be a risk factor for osteoporosis.

Keywords: Depression, bone mineral density, osteoporosis

DOI: 10.3233/BMR-2007-20403

Journal: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 151-154, 2007