A large proportion of patients with refractory depression have metabolic disorders according to a study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry last month.

“Our findings, if replicated, suggest that neurometabolic disorders may contribute to treatment-refractory psychiatric disorders even without other systemic illness,” the authors, led by Lisa A. Pan, MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pennsylvania, write.”

“An important question is whether early identification and treatment of an underlying metabolic abnormality early in the course of psychiatric illness could prevent long-term emotional and cognitive complications,” they add.”

Source: www.medscape.com – “Metabolic Disorders Linked to Severe, Refractory Depression” – Nancy A. Melville