Relationship between Oxytocin level and Major Depressive disorder

Abstract

ajor depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common medical disorders worldwide, having huge impact on physical and mental health in the society and is considered an extended life-threatening psychiatric disorder. Abnormalities in the neurohypophyseal system, neuroendocrine, and immune systems have been reported in depression. The altered activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is one of the most consistent findings in depression. Mild to moderate hyperactivity of the HPA axis resulting in increased plasma cortisol is observed in 30–50% of depressed subjects. In literature, the links between plasma oxytocin and depression are controversial, which ranged from negative to positive associations. Some studies have reported elevated plasma levels of oxytocin in depression while others have demonstrated low plasma oxytocin levels in patients with major depressive disorder when compared with controls. The current study is a case control, observational study. The clinical sample of this study consists of 80 participants. The participants were divided into two equal groups; cases and controls. The sample was collected from July 2016 till March 2018. M