LEUKOCYTOSIS DURING VARIOUS EMOTIONAL STATES

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Abstract
Leukocytosis has been noted frequently in patients with affective disorders when no infectious process or structural changes could be found to account for it. Although this phenomenon has been reported by numerous observers and various hypotheses, such as dehydration, foci of infection and acidosis, have been suggested as causes, no adequate studies of these factors have heretofore been carried out. An important question that has not been adequately stressed is whether the leukocytosis is related to a specific disease entity or whether the increase in white cells is secondary to the emotion exhibited by the patient regardless of the type of mental disease. If the latter is true, it is especially desirable to note any correlation between the level of the white blood cell count and the intensity of the emotional response. In a given situation, well adjusted persons frequently exhibit emotional states, such as anxiety and fear, which differ