ASSESSMENT OF A POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM OXYTOCIN LEVEL AND AFFECTIVE DISORDERS (MANIA AND DEPRESSION)

Abstract

SUMMARY T here is evidence to suggest that oxytocin is effective in stabilizing mood in humans. Lower plasma oxytocin levels have been reported in patients with major depression. The objective of this study was to investigate serum oxytocin levels during manic and depressive episodes. Our study was conducted on 60 subjects, 20 patients with recent attack of mania, 20 patients with recent attack of depression and 20 normal healthy subjects. Cases were selected from psychiatry hospital wards& outpatient clinics at Ain Shams University Hospital. All participants were subjected to full medical history taking, general clinical examination and Laboratory investigations including (Hb, S.creatinine, AST, ALT and serum oxytocin level) Patients with chronic systemic diseases such as renal