Brain Disorders & Therapy

Pesticide exposure, pesticide poisoning and depression in agricultural populations: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Global congress on Neuroscience Psychiatry and Mental disorder

July 03, 2023 | Webinar

Elisavet M. Frengidou

AUA, Greece

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Brain Disord Ther

Abstract:

Background and aim of the study: Research evidence suggest that farm workers represent a high-risk population for developing depression due to pesticide use. Farm workers who had experienced pesticide poisoning are at greater risk for depression compared to those who had not. The findings concerning the association between general pesticide exposure and depression are inconsistent and yet to be clarified. Methodology: A systematic review and two meta-analyses both in general pesticide use and pesticide poisoning were conducted. Relevant studies were included through searching in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, CINAHL and pre-print services databases from inception to February 21, 2022. Reviews, case reports, animal studies and studies that were not case-control, cohort or cross-sectional were excluded. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) were used, and the quality of the studies included was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS). Findings: A total of eight studies were included in both our meta-analyses. A positive but non-significant association was found between general pesticide use and depression (OR=1.123; 95% CI, 0.932-1.354) while a significant positive association was observed between pesticide poisoning and depression (OR=2.942; 95% CI, 1.791-4.831). Both sensitivity analyses did not modify substantially these results. Subgroup analysis revealed a difference regarding gender in meta-analysis for general pesticide use and depression since the pooled OR in studies included both males and females was 1.445, while in studies included only females was 1.031; it also showed a difference regarding countries in meta-analysis for pesticide poisoning and depression since the pooled OR in USA studies was 2.643, while in United Kingdom and Korea studies was 3.914. Conclusion & Significance: A significant positive association between pesticide poisoning and depression was revealed, confirming that pesticide poisoning is a risk factor of depression. Further prospective cohort and case-control studies are required to validate whether chronic low, medium and high-level pesticide exposure may as well be associated with depression.

Biography :

Elisavet Frengidou is a Regional Administrative Manager of National Organization for providing health services in Greece. She has her expertise in planning public health services and applying health policies. Her passion is studying and practicing Gestalt psychotherapy and promoting high quality of life. Her incessant engagement with mental health issues and her open mentality on new psychotherapeutic methods creates fertile inspirations and possibilities on optimizing mental healthcare in Greece.