Heart disease risk may be higher in women with posttraumatic stress disorder

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Posttraumatic stress disorder is associated with attenuated baroreceptor sensitivity among female, but not male, smokers.

Researchers at Kent State University report, "The relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) functioning was investigated using baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). We hypothesized that individuals with PTSD would exhibit lower BRS than those without PTSD."

J.W. Hughes and colleagues described their study: "Participants were 80 PTSD patients and 50 controls aged 18-68 years. All participants were smokers, many were veterans (55%), and 60 were women. Beat-to-beat BP was collected during a 5-min baseline rest periods from which estimates of BRS were derived using the sequence method."

"Women with PTSD exhibited lower BRS (M.5, S.D.=5.1) than women without PTSD (M.6, S.D..7)," the researchers reported. "For men, PTSD diagnosis was not associated with BRS, p>.05. Among women, PTSD was associated with reduced PNS functioning. Men with PTSD did not have attenuated BRS, which may be due to sample characteristics, such as age and combat veteran status."

"Reduced PNS activity may predispose women with PTSD to poorer cardiovascular health," the authors concluded.

Hughes and colleagues published the results of their research in Biological Psychology (Posttraumatic stress disorder is associated with attenuated baroreceptor sensitivity among female, but not male, smokers. Biol Psychol, 2006;71(3):296-302).

For additional information, contact J.W. Hughes, Kent State University, Department of Psychology, P.O. Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242, USA; E-mail: jhughes1@kent.edu.

The publisher of the journal Biological Psychology can be contacted at: Elsevier Science BV, P.O. Box 211, 1000 AE Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Keywords: Kent, Ohio, United States, Coronary Heart Disease, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Smoking, Tobacco Abuse, Cardiovascular Disease, Mental Health, Parasympathetic Nervous System, Gender Differences, Women's Health. This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Biotech Week via NewsRx.com.

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