Serum Melatonin with Respect to Mental Health (Anxiety & Depression) Status of First Year M.B.B.S Students

Introduction: Melatonin is a pineal hormone secreted in circadian manner, with a peak during evening and night. Night-time light exposure is a powerful suppressor of nocturnal melatonin secretion. Dopamine and serotonin have complex relationship in melatonin synthesis and secretion. Reduced levels of melatonin have been associated with severe depression. Melatonin exhibits GABA-like effects may be responsible to reduce anxiety.

Objectives: To determine the Serum Melatonin levels with respect to bedtime and its correlation with the severity of anxiety and depression. Also, to find the difference in anxiety score, depression score and serum melatonin level with respect to gender.

Methods: A cross sectional study was done amongst first year medical students, and anxiety and depression score was calculated using Hamilton’s anxiety and depression scale. Estimation of Serum Melatonin was done on the fasting morning blood samples.

Results and Conclusion: The present study shows that there is no significant difference in melatonin secretion in the students with late bedtime. With the increasing severity of the anxiety the serum melatonin was found to be lower, but the difference was not statistically significant. Similar results were observed with depression. The results shows non-significant higher anxiety and depression scores in females as compared to males. The study results also shows the significant high levels of melatonin in males as compared to females. Low melatonin levels in females may be attributed to high anxiety and depression in females.