PSTD Information

By: UC San Diego
Jan. 7, 2009 - Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more likely to have metabolic syndrome than veterans without PTSD, according to a study led by Pia Heppner, Ph.D., psychologist with the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine and Veterans Affairs of San Diego, VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH). The study will be published online January 8 by the journal BMC Medicine.Metabolic syndrome is composed of a cluster of clinical signs including obesity, high blood pressure and insulin resistance and is also associated with cardiovascular disease.The researchers studied a group of male and female veterans presenting for screening and treatment within the PTSD programs at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The sample was primarily male (92%) and Caucasian (76%), with an average age of 52 years. A majority of the sample had served in the U.S. Army (71%), and close to 70 % were Vietnam-era veterans. Clinical data indicate that over half (55%) of these veterans had moderate to severe levels of PTSD and 64% met criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD). About 40% of the veterans met criteria for metabolic syndrome.Controlling for other factors such as age, gender, depression and substance abuse, the researchers found that those with a higher severity of PTSD were more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome. Additionally, the rate of metabolic syndrome was higher among those with PTSD (34%) than in those with MDD (29%). For those with both PTSD and MDD, 46% met criteria for metabolic syndrome."Our research indicates that stress and post-stress responses are related to long-term health outcomes," said Heppner. Studies show that veterans, prisoners of war and individuals exposed to severe trauma have higher rates of disease and increased use of health care, she continued. "Our findings suggest that metabolic syndrome provides a useful framework for assessing and describing the physical burden of PTSD and can be used prospectively to evaluate health risk that may be associated with combat exposure and PTSD."Any traumatic event or series of events can cause PTSD and nearly 7.7 million Americans suffer from PTSD in any given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. A neuropsychiatric illness that was first formally diagnosed in soldiers and war veterans, it is now recognized to afflict many civilians as well. PTSD is caused by horrific, life-threatening and traumatic experiences that can occur during combat deployments. Symptoms include re-experiencing the trauma through flashbacks, intrusive thoughts and nightmares, avoidance of reminders of the trauma, excessive anxiety and trouble concentrating. Many people with PTSD also develop depression and substance abuse problems. Recent data from Afghanistan and Iraq suggest that more than one in ten military personnel involved in these conflicts develop PTSD.The authors suggest that future research is needed to evaluate the specific mechanisms in which physiological responses to stress can increase long-term health risk.Additional contributors to the paper include principal investigator Dewleen G. Baker, M.D., Niloofar Afari, Ph.D. and Richard L. Hauger, M.D.,VA San Diego Health Care System and UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry; Uzair A. Haji, M.D. and Sarah E. Nunnink, Ph.D.,VA San Diego Health Care System; Eric F. Crawford, Ph.D., Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center; Boris A. Dashevsky, Ph.D.,Cincinnati VA Medical Center; and Paul S. Horn, Ph.D., Cincinnati VA Medical Center and University of Cincinnati.Funding for the research was provided by VACO Research funds, the National Institutes of Health and the VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health.

VA Hospital in Springfield!!!!

Last night's meeting brought to the floor the idea of banning together, perhaps with other veteran's organizations in the area, and raising a little cane about trying to get, at least, a VA outpatient clinic established here in Springfield. There are nearly 24,000 veterans in Greene County, many of whom use or could use VA medical services. And that doesn't count the veterans that live just across county lines in adjacent counties. Mt. Vernon VA does a fine job and they have competent and dedicated personnel. But physicians and nurses can have as many as 1200 patients apiece assigned to them. And all vets who use Mt. Vernon and Fayetteville have to navigate through all kinds of weather, fight traffic, and spend hours to receive lab and medical services or even to buy a bottle of pills. This is particularly troublesome (and dangerous) to vets with severe ailments or disabilities, not to mention the imposition on those who have to provide transportation and care to and from. I've lost count of the elderly patents at Mt. Vernon who, accompanied by their equally elderly spouse, have to make a 60-100 mile round trip on icy roads and Interstate traffic -- a peril and hardship for both but no choice when the alternative is no care or treatment at all. Springfield is the 3d largest metro area in the state. That means the 3 largest concentration of veteran-friendly voters. Surely we can muster enough attention to get a VA facility here. After all, Springfield isn't exactly office space poor. Anybody else have a thought on this?
Larry S.