Role of Oxidative Stress and Neurotransmitter Imbalance in Depression Among Medical Students in Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.53350/Annalspakmed.2.1.12Keywords:
Depression, Oxidative stress, Neurotransmitters, Medical students, SerotoninAbstract
Background: Depression in medical students is a growing mental health issue of relevance in many countries, including Pakistan, where academic stress, emotional load, sleep deprivation and institutional inadequacies can be crucial in causing depression in students. Besides the psychosocial factors, it is increasingly becoming clear that the biological cause of depression may play a role in oxidative stress and imbalance of neurotransmitters. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of information reviewing these mechanisms amid medical students in Pakistan.
Objective: To assess how oxidative stress and neurotransmitter imbalance correlate with depression in medical students in Pakistan.
Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study was carried out at Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro between March 2024 and February 2025 among 120 undergraduate medical students of selected medical colleges in Pakistan. The patient health questionnaire-9 was used to measure depression. Blood was evaluated on the markers of oxidative stress, such as malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione and biomarkers related to neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Demographic, academic and lifestyle factors were as well documented. The SPSS version 26 was used to perform statistical analysis.
Results: Forty six (38.3%) students were found to be depressed. The levels of malondialdehyde of depressed students were significantly high and considerably lower levels of superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine levels were found among non-depressed students (p<0.001). Sleep deprivation, high academic stress and low physical activity were also strongly linked to depression. The scores of patient health questionnaire-9 were correlated positively with malondialdehyde and negatively with antioxidant and neurotransmitter ones.
Conclusion: Oxidative balance and neurotransmitter regulation disturbances seem to be related to depression in medical students in Pakistan. These results suggest a more general biological role in depression among populations of academically stressed students and the necessity of early diagnosis and preventive psychiatric measures.
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Copyright (c) 2026 ABDUL SAMAD, ISHRAT BIBI, AISHA KHALID, MEHRAB KHAN, RAMEEZ IQBAL MEMON, SOHAIL AHMED SIDDIQUI
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