Mean Platelet Volume, Red Cell Distribution Width, and Platelet Distribution Width in Patients of Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: A Retrospective Hospital-Based Study

Background: Recent studies show the role of inflammatory and immunological changes in the body in schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD). The levels of mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and red cell distribution width (RDW) are raised in inflammatory conditions. A very few studies have compared these parameters in patients of SZ and BDs. Our objective was to explore the inflammatory origins and biological distinctness between SZ and BDs through assessment of blood parameter levels. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based retrospective study was done on 141 SZ and 164 BD patients admitted during previous 3 years (2018-2021). Control data were obtained from the records of 93 age- and sex-matched nonpsychiatric hospital admissions. The hospital information system records of the patients were used to collect the information in the predesigned format. Results: The mean age of the patients of SZ and BD blood pressure (BP) was 34.48 +/- 10.54 and 32.85 +/- 12.68 years, respectively. The one-way analysis of variance test showed a significant difference in the MPV (mean square 13.68, P < 0.001) as well as PDW (mean square 36.84, P = 0.01) among the three groups. The RDW in the patient group was higher than the controls, but the difference was not statistically significant (mean square 3.25, P = 0.799). Conclusion: The elevation of hemogram parameters in the patients of SZ and BDs adds to the evidence of neuroinflammatory origins of these illnesses. In addition, a significant difference in these parameter levels between SZ and BP may imply the biological distinctness of these conditions.