Assessment Of Serum Cobalamin And Red Cell Folate Levels Among Psychiatric Patients In University Of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin

📄 Project Abstract

INTRODUCTION : Chemical imbalances, especially B vitamin deficiencies have been observed in patients with mental disorders; it is therefore important to put all efforts in place to ensure that deficiencies of these vitamins are prevented. It is also important to diagnose possible deficiencies early, to avert clinical manifestations. 15 OBJECTIVES : This study determined the serum cobalamin, RBC folate and haemogram of patients attending psychiatric clinic in UITH, Ilorin. Their blood films were also examined, to determine the presence of neutrophil hypersegmentation or macrocytosis METHODOLOGY : It was a cross-sectional descriptive case-control study of three sets of participants, including sixty-six each of psychiatric patients on psychotropic drugs, psychiatric patients who are psychotropic drug-naïve and healthy controls. Blood samples of the two groups of psychiatric patients were assessed and compared with controls who had been certified free of psychiatric illness, using the Gene...