@article{ZechScherfClavelDanielsetal.2021,
  author    = {Zech, Linda D. and Scherf-Clavel, Maike and Daniels, Christine and Schwab, Michael and Deckert, J{\"u}rgen and Unterecker, Stefan and Herr, Alexandra S.},
  title     = {Patients with higher vitamin D levels show stronger improvement of self-reported depressive symptoms in psychogeriatric day-care setting},
  series = {Journal of Neural Transmission},
  volume    = {128},
  journal   = {Journal of Neural Transmission},
  number    = {8},
  issn      = {1435-1463},
  doi       = {10.1007/s00702-021-02385-1},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-268525},
  pages     = {1233-1238},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {Depression is a common psychiatric disorder among geriatric patients that decreases the quality of life and increases morbidity and mortality. Vitamin D as a neuro-steroid hormone might play a role in the onset and treatment of depression. In the present study, the association between depressive symptoms and vitamin D concentration in serum was evaluated. 140 patients of a psychogeriatric day-care unit were included. The geriatric depression scale (GDS) and the Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS) were assessed at the beginning and end of treatment, GDS scores additionally 6 weeks after discharge from the day-care unit. Vitamin D levels were measured at the beginning of the treatment, routinely. Patients with levels below 30 µg/L were treated with 1000 IU vitamin D per day. There was no association between the severity of depressive symptoms and the concentration of vitamin D at the beginning of the treatment. Patients with higher vitamin D levels showed a stronger decline of depressive symptoms measured by the GDS during their stay in the day-care unit. We provide evidence that vitamin D serum levels might influence antidepressant therapy response in a geriatric population. Prospective studies are necessary to determine which patients may profit from add-on vitamin D therapy.},
  language  = {en}
}