ABSTRACT
Several studies demonstrated changes in serum lipid concentrations in chronic post traumatic stress disorder [cPTSD] patients. The purpose of this study was to assess serum lipid concentrations in soldiers with cPTSD and compare it with chronic major depressive disorder [cMDD] patients. We measured serum lipid concentrations in patients with cPTSD [n=40] and cMDD [n=40] and compared the results. The patients were all male [30-48 years old] and had an illness history of more than 2 years prior to conducting the study. The groups were matched regarding their body mass index [BMI] and duration of symptoms. Laboratory investigations and psychiatric evaluations were carried-out 5 days after admission. Serum lipid concentrations were measured by enzyme assay [EA]. cPTSD group showed significantly greater mean cholesterol concentrations [227.3 +/- 69.7 mg/dL] than the cMDD group [190.7 +/- 35.4 mg/dL] [p=0.004]. Mean high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C] concentrations for cPTSD patients [66.6 +/- 17.6 mg/dl] was significantly lower than HDL-C level in cMDD patients [76.5 +/- 19.7 mg/dL] [p= 0.02]. In contrast, mean low density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] concentrations for cPTSD patients [118.9 +/- 60.1 mg/dL] was significantly higher than LDL-C level in cMDD patients [76.5 +/- 25.2 mg/dL] [p= 0.000]. Although similar differences was noticed on triglycerides concentration [cPTSD; 220.2 +/- 79.0 and cMDD; 201.0 +/- 61.8], it was statistically non-significant [p= 0.23]. Our findings suggest that cPTSD patients are at high risk of developing arteriosclerosis and vascular incident secondary to low levels of HDL-C and high levels of LDL-C