Mean platelet volume and red cell distribution width in the patients of Schizophrenia and Bipolar mood disorder

BACKGROUND: The role of neuro-inflammation in the etio-pathogenesis of chronic mental illnesses such as Schizophrenia and Bipolar mood disorders is currently being explored. Some of the routinely investigated blood parameters such as mean platelet volume and red cell distribution width are considered as the proxy markers of inflammation. So far only a small number of published papers explore the deviations in the values of these parameters in patients with severe mental illnesses. OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to compare the mean platelet volume (MPV) and red cell distribution width (RDW) between the patients of schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder. METHODS: A retrospective cross sectional observational study was conducted at a tertiary health care centre, using the inpatient records of all the schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder patients, admitted over a 3 years period. RESULTS: The records of 150 patients of Schizophrenia (including 72 males and 78 females and mean age 35.09 ± 11.1 years) and 167 (with 91 males and 86 females and mean age 33.34 ± 13.06 years) patients of Bipolar mood disorder were analysed. The mean levels of blood parameters of schizophrenia (MPV 9.24±1.13 & RDW 14.86±3.77) and bipolar disorder (MPV 8.79±1.40 & RDW 15.03±4.10) patients was in a higher normal range of the Indian population norm. The comparison of means using independent sample t test showed significant difference between MPV of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder patients. (P<0.001) There was no significant difference in the RDW between the two categories. (P=0.701) CONCLUSIONS: The current research findings support the neuro-inflammation hypothesis of chronic mental illnesses as well as the biological distinctiveness between the diagnoses of schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorders.