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The impact of statins on psychological wellbeing: a systematic review and meta-analysis

O'Neil, Adrienne ; Sanna, Livia ; Redlich, Cassie LU ; Sanderson, Kristy ; Jacka, Felice ; Williams, Lana J. ; Pasco, Julie A. and Berk, Michael (2012) In BMC Medicine 10.
Abstract
Background: Cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may be beneficial for treating depression and improving mood. However, evidence regarding their effects remains inconsistent, with some studies reporting links to mood disturbances. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to determine the impact of statins on psychological wellbeing of individuals with or without hypercholesterolemia. Methods: Articles were identified using medical, health, psychiatric and social science databases, evaluated for quality, and data were synthesized and analyzed in RevMan-5 software using a random effects model. Results: The 7 randomized controlled trials included in the analysis represented 2,105... (More)
Background: Cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may be beneficial for treating depression and improving mood. However, evidence regarding their effects remains inconsistent, with some studies reporting links to mood disturbances. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to determine the impact of statins on psychological wellbeing of individuals with or without hypercholesterolemia. Methods: Articles were identified using medical, health, psychiatric and social science databases, evaluated for quality, and data were synthesized and analyzed in RevMan-5 software using a random effects model. Results: The 7 randomized controlled trials included in the analysis represented 2,105 participants. A test for overall effect demonstrated no statistically significant differences in psychological wellbeing between participants receiving statins or a placebo (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.08, 95% CI -0.29 to 0.12; P = 0.42). Sensitivity analyses were conducted to separately analyze depression (n = 5) and mood (n = 2) outcomes; statins were associated with statistically significant improvements in mood scores (SMD = -0.43, 95% CI -0.61 to -0.24). Conclusions: Our findings refute evidence of negative effects of statins on psychological outcomes, providing some support for mood-related benefits. Future studies could examine the effects of statins in depressed populations. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
anti-inflammatory, cytokines, depression, hypercholesterolemia, mood, oxidative, statins
in
BMC Medicine
volume
10
article number
154
publisher
BioMed Central (BMC)
external identifiers
  • wos:000315955200001
  • scopus:84870294888
  • pmid:23206308
ISSN
1741-7015
DOI
10.1186/1741-7015-10-154
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1801a97d-7713-42ba-bfd0-e4b239f909ac (old id 3674821)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:26:21
date last changed
2022-05-15 05:18:24
@article{1801a97d-7713-42ba-bfd0-e4b239f909ac,
  abstract     = {{Background: Cholesterol-lowering medications such as statins have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which may be beneficial for treating depression and improving mood. However, evidence regarding their effects remains inconsistent, with some studies reporting links to mood disturbances. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to determine the impact of statins on psychological wellbeing of individuals with or without hypercholesterolemia. Methods: Articles were identified using medical, health, psychiatric and social science databases, evaluated for quality, and data were synthesized and analyzed in RevMan-5 software using a random effects model. Results: The 7 randomized controlled trials included in the analysis represented 2,105 participants. A test for overall effect demonstrated no statistically significant differences in psychological wellbeing between participants receiving statins or a placebo (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.08, 95% CI -0.29 to 0.12; P = 0.42). Sensitivity analyses were conducted to separately analyze depression (n = 5) and mood (n = 2) outcomes; statins were associated with statistically significant improvements in mood scores (SMD = -0.43, 95% CI -0.61 to -0.24). Conclusions: Our findings refute evidence of negative effects of statins on psychological outcomes, providing some support for mood-related benefits. Future studies could examine the effects of statins in depressed populations.}},
  author       = {{O'Neil, Adrienne and Sanna, Livia and Redlich, Cassie and Sanderson, Kristy and Jacka, Felice and Williams, Lana J. and Pasco, Julie A. and Berk, Michael}},
  issn         = {{1741-7015}},
  keywords     = {{anti-inflammatory; cytokines; depression; hypercholesterolemia; mood; oxidative; statins}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{BioMed Central (BMC)}},
  series       = {{BMC Medicine}},
  title        = {{The impact of statins on psychological wellbeing: a systematic review and meta-analysis}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3372983/3811122.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1186/1741-7015-10-154}},
  volume       = {{10}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}