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

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.

Relationship Between the Occurrence of Involutional Depression andSerum Estrogen Level in Menopausal Women / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To detect the serum estrogen level in women with involution al depression (ID) and to study the effect of estrogen on the occurrence of ID. Methods Serum estrogen levels at 7:00 am were detec ted by r adioimmunoassay in 40 normal menopausal women (Group A) and 49 cases of ID (Grou p B), and compared with those of 36 cases previously detected. Results Estro gen level was much lower in Group B than Group A (P 0.05 ). Co nclusion The occurrence of ID in menopausal women may be related to t he decrease of estrogen level, but the specific correlation of the above two has not been proved yet.