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Effect of elevated catecholamine levels on cerebral hemodynamics in patients with chronic post-traumatic stress

Marinko Dikanović1, Vida Demarin, Dragutin Kadojić

  • 1"Dr. Josip Bencević" General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Slavonski Brod, Croatia. idikanov@inet.hr

Collegium Antropologicum
|July 16, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Elevated stress hormones (catecholamines) correlate with impaired cerebral blood flow in PTSD patients. Treatment significantly improved both hormone levels and blood flow, suggesting a link between stress, vasospasm, and PTSD.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Cardiovascular Physiology

Background:

  • Chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with physiological changes.
  • Elevated catecholamine levels are a known stress response.
  • Cerebral hemodynamics can be affected by various physiological conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the correlation between catecholamine levels and cerebral hemodynamics in chronic PTSD.
  • To assess the impact of psychiatric treatment on these parameters.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 50 chronic PTSD patients and 50 controls (aged 30-50).
  • Measured 24-hour urinary vanillylmandelic acid (VMA), a catecholamine metabolite.
  • Assessed cerebral blood flow velocity in the circle of Willis using transcranial Doppler (TCD) sonography.
  • Measurements were taken before and after a 21-day psychiatric treatment.

Main Results:

  • Initially, 58% of PTSD patients had elevated VMA and 68% showed increased cerebral blood flow velocity, with a significant correlation (p=0.3290).
  • After treatment, only 16% of patients had elevated VMA and 18% had increased blood flow velocity, still correlated (p=0.7906).
  • Control subjects showed normal VMA levels and minimal elevated blood flow velocity (4%).
  • Results indicate a link between elevated stress hormones, cerebral vasospasm, and PTSD.

Conclusions:

  • A significant association exists between elevated catecholamines and impaired cerebral hemodynamics (vasospasm) in PTSD.
  • Three weeks of psychiatric treatment effectively reduced both catecholamine metabolite levels and cerebral vasospasm in PTSD patients.
  • Findings highlight the impact of prolonged stress hormone elevation on cerebral blood flow dynamics in PTSD.

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