Mean platelet volume in anxiety disorder: a case-control study

Background: Anxiety disorders are one of the most common psychiatric disorders existing in the population. The association between stress and platelet activity has been envisaged by the researchers. Mean platelet volume (MPV) is considered as the marker and determinant of platelet function. Objective: To evaluate the MPV in anxiety disorder and to check for the association of MPV with severity of anxiety. Method: This was a hospital-based, descriptive, cross-sectional case-control study. One hundred and fourteen consecutive anxiety disorder patients were included in the study. Age and gender matched 70 subjects were taken as controls. The Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HAM-A) and the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D) were assessed and complete blood count, MPV, and lipid profile were measured for all the subjects. Results: MPV values were more in anxiety disorder (9.844±1.33) than in controls (8.72±0.49) and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). There was negative correlation between MPV and platelet count, and there was a positive correlation between HAM-A scores and MPV. Conclusion: Increased MPV is associated with anxiety disorder. Future research should be planned to investigate the effect of MPV, anxiety disorder on cardiovascular diseases and the effect of anxiety treatment on MPV.