Metabolic Characteristics, Prevalence of Anxiety and Its Influencing Factors in First-episode and Drug-naïve Major Depressive Disorder Patients with Impaired Fasting Glucose

Background: Both major depressive disorder (MDD) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) are associated with metabolic abnormalities and anxiety, but few studies have investigated the relationship between abnormal metabolism and anxiety in first-episode and drug-naïve (FEDN) MDD patients with IFG. This study investigated the psychological status, metabolic properties, the prevalence and influencing factors of anxiety symptoms in the FEDN MDD patients with IFG.

Methods: A total of 1718 FEDN MDD outpatients were recruited. Sociodemographic and suicide data were collected for each participant. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) were used to assess patients' clinical symptoms. Fasting blood glucose, lipids, body mass index (BMI), and thyroid function-related indicators were also measured.

Results: FEDN MDD patients with IFG (IFG group) had higher psychotic symptoms, suicide attempts, HAMD score, and HAMA score than FEDN MDD patients without IFG (NIFG group). There were also significant differences in blood lipids, BMI, and thyroid function indicators between the two groups. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms in the IFG group was 20.9 %, which was significantly higher than that in the NIFG group (10.4 %). Furthermore, anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with female, marital status, psychotic symptoms, suicide attempts, and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C).

Conclusion: FEDN MDD patients with anxiety who have IFG are more likely to have problems with thyroid function, lipid metabolism, psychotic symptoms and suicide attempts, especially in female patients. Prevention of these problems should be enhanced when treating such patients.