Citation

Hamazaki K, Nishi D, Yonemoto N, Noguchi H, Kim Y, Matsuoka Y. Eur. Psychiatry 2014; 29(7): 408-413.

Affiliation

Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Translational Medical Center, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Psychiatry, National Disaster Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan; CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: yutaka@ncnp.go.jp.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2014.05.002

PMID

24969103

Abstract

Several cross-sectional studies, but no prospective studies, have reported an association between an abnormal lipid profile and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We hypothesized that an abnormal lipid profile might predict risk for developing PTSD. In this prospective study, we analyzed data from 237 antidepressant-naïve severely injured patients who participated in the Tachikawa Cohort of Motor Vehicle Accident Study. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels at baseline were significantly lower in patients with PTSD than those without PTSD at 6months after motor vehicle accident (MVA) and were inversely associated with risk for PTSD. In contrast, triglycerides (TG) at baseline were significantly higher in patients with PTSD than in those without PTSD at 6months post-MVA and were positively associated with risk for PTSD. There was no clear association between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or total cholesterol and risk for PTSD. In conclusion, low HDL-C and high TG may be risk factors for PTSD. Determining lipid profiles might help identify those at risk for PTSD after experiencing trauma.

Language: en