Serum albumin level in a sample of Egyptian patients with major depressive and bipolar disorders; a case control comparative study

Abstract

Abstract Background Inflammation plays a significant role in the development of major depression and bipolar disorders. This research examines albumin as a potential inflammatory biomarker in these conditions to detect its involvement and explore the connection between serum albumin levels and mood disorders during acute phases in a sample of Egyptian psychiatric patients. Objective To determine serum albumin levels in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar affective disorder (BAD) and healthy control; and identify the correlation between serum albumin levels and the severity of symptoms in both conditions. Patients and methods The study is a case control comparative study; the sample was comprised of 50 patients diagnosed with MDD and 50 with BAD, all of whom were experiencing acute episodes at the time of recruitment. Additionally, 50 healthy individuals were selected as the control group. Diagnosis was conducted using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I), while symptom severity was assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and the Young Mania Rating Scale (Y-MRS). Blood samples were collected to measure serum albumin levels, and the correlation between albumin levels and the scores from these assessment scales was analyzed. Results The study revealed no statistically significant difference in the serum albumin level in the 3 study groups. However, the correlation coefficient between serum albumin and YMR (Young Mania Rating) score in bipolar patients is − 0.637, while the correlation coefficient between serum albumin and BDI (Beck Depression Inventory) score in major depression patients is − 0.929, both with P-values of less than 0.001, indicating statistical significance. In addition, there is a significant inverse correlation with the age of onset of symptoms of both patients’ groups, suggesting that late age at onset is associated with lower serum albumin levels. Moreover, serum albumin levels vary significantly by age group only in the major depression group, with higher levels observed in the 18–30 years age group compared to older age groups. Conclusion Serum albumin levels did not differ among the MDD, BD, and control groups. However, a notable negative correlation was observed between serum albumin levels and symptom severity in both MDD and BD patients. Further larger controlled studies are required to investigate the potential of serum albumin as a biomarker for assessing the severity of mood disorders.

Keywords

• Bipolar disorder
• Major depressive disorder
• Serum albumin