Pharmacopsychiatry 2015; 25 - A13
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1557951

Prevalence of Depression in patients with diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)

T Falter 1, V Schmitt 1, S Boeschen 1, S Herold 1, G Hefner 2, V Weyer 5, C von Auer 4, B Lämmle 3, H Rossmann 1, I Scharrer 4, K Lackner 1
  • 1Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
  • 2Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
  • 3Center for Thrombosis and Hemostasis, University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
  • 4Department of Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
  • 5Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (IMBEI), University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany

Introduction: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an acute life-threatening microangiopathy with a tendency to relapse. In acute episodes brain is frequently affected by microthrombi inducing different neurological abnormalities of varying severity. Aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of depression and cognitive deficit in patients with TTP. Methods: TTP patients and healthy controls were repeatedly analyzed over three years by means of different questionnaires. We used standardized questionnaires to evaluate depression, resilience and mental performance. Results: 70% of the TTP patients (n = 102) suffered from depression, significantly (p < 0.001) more than the controls with 13.5% (n = 52). Only 7% of the TTP patients received psychotherapy and 14% psychotropic drugs. In addition, TTP patients had considerably (p < 0.001) lower cognitive performance than controls however they performed better (p < 0.001) than depressive controls. However, there is no correlation between incidence of depression and frequency as well as severity of acute episodes. Mental performance (executive function, memory, attention) correlates strongly with severity of depression (r: 0.779, p = 0.01). Conclusion: The prevalence of depression and cognitive deficits is significantly higher in TTP patients compared to healthy controls. In addition, cognitive impairment seems to be primarily a consequence of depression, anxiety and personality, almost independently of TTP episodes.