J Korean Med Sci.  2004 Jun;19(3):431-436. 10.3346/jkms.2004.19.3.431.

Serum Lipid Concentrations in Croatian Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Comorbid with Major Depressive Disorder, or Major Depressive Disorder

Affiliations
  • 1University Department of Psychiatry, "Sestre milosrdnice" University Hospital, Vinogradska cestra 29, Zagreb, Croatia. dalibor.karlovic@zg.hinet.hr

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess eventual differences in serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), triglycerides, LDL-C/HDL-C ratio between veterans with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) only or comorbid with major depressive disorder (MDD), veterans with combat experiences with MDD, and healthy control group. PTSD and/ or MDD were diagnose according to structured clinical interview based on DSM-IV criteria. Additional criteria to diagnose PTSD were Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), and to diagnose MDD Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRAS). Serum lipid concentrations were determined by using the enzyme-assay method. Veterans with combat-related PTSD as well as veterans with combat-related PTSD comorbid with MDD showed significantly higher concentrations of cholesterol (F=9.858, p<0.01), triglycerides (F=10.112, p<0.01), LDL-C (F=11.145, p<0.01), and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (F=8.346, p<0.01) vs. veterans with MDD or healthy control group. Contrary healthy control group and veterans with MDD showed significantly higher concentrations of HDL-C (F=8.421, p<0.01), vs. veterans with PTSD or PTSD comorbid with MDD. In conclusion, there are no differences in serum lipid concentrations between veterans with combat-related PTSD and PTSD comorbid with MDD, but they have higher lipid concentrations than veterans with MDD or healthy control subjects.

Keyword

Croatia; Cholesterol; Lipoproteins, LDL; Lipoproteins, HDL; Triglycerides; Stress Disorder, Post-traumatic; Major Depressive Disorder; Depression, Involutional

MeSH Terms

Adult
Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Cholesterol/blood
Combat Disorders
Croatia
Depression/*blood/*complications
Human
Lipids/*metabolism
Male
Middle Aged
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/*blood/*complications
Veterans

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