Metabolic syndrome and combat post-traumatic stress disorder intensity: preliminary findings

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with co-morbidity of many major mental and somatic disorders as well as with premature mortality.

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between combat-related PTSD, metabolic syndrome and its components as well as between PTSD severity and metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome and its components were investigated in 100 male war veterans with combat PTSD and in 79 males who needed medical attention in a family medicine dispensary.

Metabolic syndrome according to the modified NCEP: ATP III criteria was found in 35% of our PTSD patients. Metabolic syndrome and intensity of PTSD were significantly related. Metabolic syndrome was identified in 66.7% of the war veterans with high intensity of PTSD in comparison to 23.3% of the veterans with low intensity PTSD.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components is elevated in war veterans with PTSD. PTSD is a multi-systemic disorder and treatment of war veterans with PTSD should address co-morbid somatic disorders including metabolic syndrome in addition to the clinical features of PTSD.