Correlation between serum lipid concentrations and psychological distress

This study examines the correlations between serum lipid levels and psychol ogical distress. There were 4444 consecutive attendees of general health cl inics who participated in the study. Psychological symptoms were measured b y the Taiwanese version of the Symptoms Check List 90, revised (T-SCL-90-R) . Levels of fasting serum lipids, including total cholesterol, total trigly cerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), were determined. Multiple linear regression analyses, with adjustment for confounders, revea led that the concentration of HDL-C had significant inverse associations wi th scores of depression, somatization and phobic anxiety. Women with an HDL -C level lower than 35 mg/dl scored significantly higher on depression, int erpersonal sensitivity, phobia, anxiety, somatization and aggressive hostil ity, while subjects with a total cholesterol concentration lower than 160 m g/dl scored significantly higher. on anxiety, aggressive hostility, phobia, and psychoticism. This study provides, for the first time, comprehensive d ata derived from the Taiwanese population on the link between lipids and ps ychological symptoms, revealing a reverse correlation between depression an d serum concentrations of HDL-C. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All lights reserved.