Korean J Psychopharmacol.  1999 Oct;10(2):143-149.

Plasma Serotonin Level in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

• Choi HS
• Kang HS
• Choi JH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
This research was performed to investigate whether or not the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder may be related to serotonin system. METHOD: Plasma serotonin levels were measured in 23 male patients with posttraumatic stress disorder and 19 nonpsychiatric normal male controls who were matched in age and sex. All subjects in both groups are vietnam-war veterans. Posttraumatic stress disorder was diagnosed using the DSM-IV.
RESULTS
Plasma serotonin levels were significantly lower in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder than in normal control subjects(p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study suggest that hypoactivity of serotonin systems may be related to the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder.

Keyword

Posttraumatic stress disorder; Plasma serotonin

MeSH Terms

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Humans
Male
Plasma*
Serotonin*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic*
Veterans
Serotonin