BLOOD-COAGULATION AND PLATELET-AGGREGATION IN MAJOR DEPRESSION

Recently, it was found that the plasma of depressed patients significa ntly reduced the primary and secondary platelet aggregation to aggrega ting agents, such as ADP and collagen, in platelet rich plasma (PRP) o f normal volunteers. Other authors found significantly decreased maxim um amplitudes of adrenaline-induced platelet aggregation in major depr essed patients versus normal controls. The aim of the present study wa s to examine platelet aggregation and blood coagulation in depression. Toward this end, the authors have measured secondary platelet aggrega tion to ADP and collagen, and the activated partial thromboplastin tim e (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) in 16 normal volunteers, 16 minor, 40 simple major and 23 melancholic subjects. There were no significant differences in ADP- or collagen-induced platelet aggregability, APTT or PT between normal controls, minor, simple major or melancholic depr essed patients. There were no significant relationships between severi ty of depression and APTT, PT or platelet aggregability to ADP or coll agen. It is concluded that blood coagulation and platelet aggregabilit y to ADP and collagen are probably not disordered in major depression.