PTSD and metabolic syndrome

A study by researchers at the San Diego School of Medicine has found that army veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more likely to have metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is composed of a cluster of clinical signs including obesity, high blood pressure and insulin resistance and is associated with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The researchers studied a group of men and women seeking treatment for PTSD at the Cincinatti Veterans Affairs Medical Centre. The sample was primarily male (92%), White (76%) and had an average age of 52. 71% of them had served in the U.S. army and close to 70% were Vietnam veterans. Over half (55%) had moderate-to-severe levels of PTSD, 64% had major depression and 40% met the criteria for metabolic syndrome. Those people with more severe symptoms were more likely to have metabolic syndrome and the rate of metabolic syndrome was higher (34%) among those with PTSD than in those with depression (29%).

You can find out more about this research at

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090107203124.htm