Could Road Rage have a Hematologic Link?
December 20, 2013; Posted by: WeBleed Staff
New insights into the old colloquial phrase, “He has his blood up”.
Researchers at the University of Chicago have discovered that inflamed proteins are present in the blood of people who are prone to having hostile outbursts or showing signs of rage.
“What we show is that inflammation markers [proteins] are up in these aggressive individuals,” said Dr. Emil Coccaro in an interview with WebMD, professor and chair of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience at the University of Chicago.
Blood tests of people who have a psychiatric illness known as intermittent explosive disorder (IED) show signs of this inflammation. According the the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health, IED affects nearly 16 million people – most of whom turn to medication and behavior therapy for help.
Coccaro is now studying whether the use of anti-inflammatory medicines can reduce unwanted aggression.
“The levels of chronic inflammation are about twice as great in [intermittent explosive disorder] compared with healthy subjects,” Coccaro found.
Further Reading: Road Rage Stats from the NHTSA; Intermittent Explosive Disorder from MayoClinic.com
Photo Credit: Don Bayley, Getty Images
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