Cell-mediated immunity in combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
OBJECTIVE
To explore immune function in patients with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).


METHODS
A case-control study using the standardised Cell-mediated Immunity (CMI) Multitest.


METHODS
Cases were 25 Vietnam combat veterans undergoing treatment for clinically diagnosed PTSD. Controls had no diagnosed psychiatric disorders: 28 were civilians and 20 were servicemen who had had South-east Asian postings but no combat experience.


METHODS
The sum score, the number of reactions and the compound scores from the CMI Multitest were assessed as a measure of immune function.


RESULTS
Psychometric tests distinguished between cases and controls at a highly significant level (P < 0.001). Veterans with PTSD had enhanced cell-mediated immunity compared with civilians (P = 0.008) and servicemen (P = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
PTSD in combat veterans is associated with enhanced cell-mediated immune responsiveness. This could have wide implications for psychiatry and general medicine.
Watson
I P
IP
Department of Psychiatry, University of Tasmania, Launceston.
Muller
H K
HK
Jones
I H
IH
Bradley
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000276:immunology*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology; D014744:Vietnam; D014857:Warfare