Stress and Blood Changes in Major Depression
Author Information
Author(s): Wong Ma-Li, Dong Chuanhui, Esposito Karin, Thakur Sarika, Liu Weiqing, Elashoff Robert M., Licinio Julio
Primary Institution: University of Miami
Hypothesis
Subjects with MDD would exhibit hematological and hemorheologic measures compatible with stress-hemoconcentration, and that these measures would improve with successful antidepressant treatment.
Conclusion
Antidepressant treatment improves hemorheologic measures of stress-hemoconcentration in individuals with mild to moderate major depressive disorder.
Supporting Evidence
- MDD subjects had significantly increased hemorheologic measures compared to controls.
- Measures of stress-hemoconcentration improved significantly after 8 weeks of antidepressant treatment.
- Improvements in blood measures were correlated with decreased severity of depression.
Takeaway
People with depression have thicker blood due to stress, but taking antidepressants can help make their blood thinner again.
Methodology
Secondary analysis of data from a randomized, double-blind trial comparing antidepressant treatment response in MDD subjects and controls.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the exclusion of certain groups and the focus on a single ethnic group.
Limitations
The study did not directly measure fluid and food intake, and smoking habits were not collected for all participants.
Participant Demographics
146 Mexican-American outpatients aged 19–65 with mild to moderate major depression.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95%CI=0.77–0.93
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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