Objective: Iron deficiency anemia is a very common disease in women. This disease may cause behavioral and emotional effects as well as physical symptoms. We aimed to evaluate anxiety, depression, impulsivity and aggression levels in female patients with iron deficiency anemia.

Materials and Methods: A total of 302 female participants (148 with iron deficiency anemia and 154 controls) were included in the study. Sociodemographic data form, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Barratt Impulsivity Scale-Short Form (BIS-SF), Buss Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) were applied to all participants. In addition, hemogram, iron, iron binding capacity and ferritin levels of the patients and healthy women were compared.

Results: The iron-deficiency anemia group had a lower hemoglobin level than the control group, but total iron binding capacity, iron, and ferritin levels were similar between the two groups. The different scales used were all found not to be significant between the two groups. A relationship was found between Barratt Impulsivity Scale-Short Form, Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (r=0.142, p=0.013) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (r=0.115, p=0.046), and between Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory (r=0.229, p<0.001) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (r=0.425, p<0.001). Although there was no difference between the groups, there was a relationship between the variables.

Conclusion: We found that women with iron deficiency anemia were mildly anxious and depressed, and the frequency of impulsive and aggressive behaviors was similar to healthy women. Further studies are needed to examine the psychological aspects of iron deficiency anemia.