Application the Beck Depression Test to Screen for Depressive Findings Before and After Treatment in Patients with Iron Deficiency Anemia and/or Vitamin D Deficiency

Abstract

Aim: Depression, vitamin D deficiency, and anemia are significant global public health issues. Depression, loss of interest, and a lack of enjoyment are the main warning indicators. In this study, we aimed to compare the results of the Beck depression test before and after replacement therapy in patients with iron deficiency anemia and vitamin D deficiency and to show the relationship between iron deficiency anemia (IDA), vitamin D deficiency anemia and depression in patients. Material and Methods: 139 patients with vitamin D deficiency and/or IDA who applied to the internal medicine outpatient clinics of Dışkapı Hospital between March 2017 and September 2017 participated in the study. Patients with vitamin D deficiency and/or IDA were included in the study, and the Beck depression test (BDI) questionnaire was applied to these patients before and after their treatment. Then, the scores on these two questionnaires were compared. Statistical analyzes were performed using SPSS version 20.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Results: All patients had Vitamin D deficiency, 59% (n=82) had both IDA and Vitamin D deficiency, and 41% had only Vitamin D deficiency. The mean follow-up time of the patients after treatment was 64.2±23.4 days. There was a significant decrease in BDI scores in both male patients (p=0.025) and female patients (p<0.001) after treatment compared to before. Conclusion: In our study, it was shown that the risk of depression is high in patients with vitamin D deficiency and/or IDA, and depressive symptoms decreased after short-term replacement therapy with vitamin D and iron.