Posttraumatic stress disorder and dyslipidemia: previous research and novel findings from patients with PTSD caused by myocardial infarction

World J Biol Psychiatry. 2010 Mar;11(2):141-7. doi: 10.3109/15622970903449846.

Abstract

Objectives: Based on a brief systematic review suggesting dyslipidemia in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), we studied, for the first time, levels of blood lipids in patients with a DSM-IV diagnosis of PTSD caused by myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: Study participants were eight patients with full PTSD, eight patients with subsyndromal PTSD, and 31 patients with no PTSD who were diagnosed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) interview after a mean of 32+/-8 months after MI. Levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined in plasma.

Results: Patients with full PTSD had lower HDL-C than patients with subsyndromal PTSD (P = 0.044) and those with no PTSD (P = 0.014) controlling for sex, body mass index, and statin equivalent dosage. Moreover, HDL-C levels were inversely associated with PTSD total symptoms (r = -0.33, P = 0.027), re-experiencing symptoms (r = -0.32, P = 0.036), and avoidance symptoms (r = -0.34, P = 0.025). There were no significant associations of PTSD diagnostic status and symptomatology with the three other lipid measures.

Conclusion: Chronic PTSD caused by MI was associated with lower plasma levels of HDL-C. The finding concurs with the notion of dyslipidemia partially underlying the atherosclerotic risk in individuals with PTSD caused by different types of trauma.

MeSH terms

  • Body Mass Index
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cholesterol, HDL / blood
  • Cholesterol, LDL / blood
  • Dyslipidemias / complications
  • Dyslipidemias / drug therapy
  • Dyslipidemias / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / complications
  • Myocardial Infarction / psychology*
  • Sex Factors
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / blood
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / etiology*
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Cholesterol, HDL
  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol