1. Can activation of coagulation and impairment of fibrinolysis in patients with anxiety and depression be reversed after improvement of psychiatric symptoms? Results of a pilot study.
- Author
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Geiser F, Gessler K, Conrad R, Imbierowicz K, Albus C, and Harbrecht U
- Subjects
- Adult, Anxiety Disorders complications, Anxiety Disorders psychology, Anxiety Disorders therapy, Blood Coagulation, Blood Coagulation Disorders etiology, Blood Coagulation Disorders therapy, Depressive Disorder complications, Depressive Disorder psychology, Depressive Disorder therapy, Factor VII analysis, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Plasminogen Inactivators blood, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Psychotherapy, Treatment Outcome, Anxiety Disorders blood, Blood Coagulation Disorders psychology, Depressive Disorder blood, Fibrinolysis
- Abstract
Anxiety and depression are associated with an activation of coagulation and impairment of fibrinolysis. This study addresses the question whether these findings are reversed after psychotherapy and improvement of psychiatric symptoms. Three factors of coagulation and fibrinolysis as well as level of anxiety and depression were reassessed in 12 patients 1 to 3 years after intensive inpatient psychotherapy. The patients showed a substantial improvement of their severe anxiety disorder and comorbid depressive disorder. Simultaneously, we found a significant decrease in factor VII and plasminogen activator inhibitor. We conclude that reduction of severe anxiety and depression may be associated with a reversal of the procoagulant effect (activation of coagulation and impairment of fibrinolysis) of these psychological states. Because of the small sample size of this pilot study, further research is needed.
- Published
- 2012
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