A CROSS-SECTIONAL COMPARATIVE STUDY OF LIPID PROFILE IN MAJOR ENDOGENOUS DEPRESSIVE DISORDER PATIENTS ATTENDING PSYCHIATRIC OPD WITH MATCHED NORMAL CONTROLS

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a mood disorder associated with significant alterations in lipid metabolism. Dyslipidemia may contribute to the pathogenesis of depression and is also a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. This study compares lipid profiles between MDD patients and age- and sex-matched healthy controls to explore their potential role as biomarkers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients attending the Psychiatry Outpatient Department (OPD) who were diagnosed with major endogenous depressive disorder, alongside age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Following ethical clearance and informed consent, lipid profiles were assessed using fasting blood samples. Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) was used to quantify depressive severity. Results: Patients with MDD had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol (198.37 ± 34.51 mg/dL vs. 162.13 ± 34.14 mg/dL; p = 0.0001), LDL (123.97 ± 27.87 mg/dL vs. 99.97 ± 32.52 mg/dL; p = 0.003), triglycerides (192.37 ± 122.84 mg/dL vs. 132.20 ± 39.41 mg/dL; p = 0.013), and VLDL (38.46 ± 24.56 mg/dL vs. 26.44 ± 7.88 mg/dL; p = 0.013). HDL levels were lower in the MDD group but not statistically significant (p = 0.159). Female patients exhibited significantly higher triglyceride and VLDL levels than males (p = 0.03). No significant correlation was found between lipid levels and HAM-D scores or depression severity.