Abstract
Derangement of antioxidant levels in major depressive disorder had been correlated with oxidative damage. The effect of Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors on endogenous antioxidant uric acid levels in major depressive disorder has never been examined. This was a prospective; open labeled, parallel, 12 weeks study, in which serum uric acid levels and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score were estimated in age and sex matched thirty-six healthy and forty major depressive disorder subjects before and after fluoxetine and citalopram treatment. Significant decrease in serum uric acid (P<0.0001) was observed in newly diagnosed major depressive disorder subjects when compared to healthy subjects. The trend was reversed after 6 weeks more significantly after 12 weeks of treatment with improvement in Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score. Also, Significant and negative correlation was found between Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score and serum uric acid level (r= -0.864, P<0.001) after 12 weeks of treatment. Treatment with fluoxetine or citalopram reverses endogenous antioxidants like uric acid and improves Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression score in major depressive disorder.