Low platelet-poor plasma concentrations of serotonin in patients with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder.
BACKGROUND
Combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (CR-PTSD) is associated with a dysregulation of various neurotransmitter systems.


METHODS
We assessed levels of platelet-poor plasma (PPP) norepinephrine (NE), and serotonin (5-HT), and 24-hour urinary excretion of NE, dopamine (DA), and homovanillic acid (HVA) in 17 male outpatients with untreated chronic CR-PTSD (age, 33.1 +/- 7.4 years) and 10 normal control subjects (age, 35.8 +/- 2.7 years).


RESULTS
Compared with the control subjects, the PTSD patients showed significantly lower PPP 5-HT levels, elevated PPP NE levels, and significantly higher mean 24-hour urinary excretion of all three catecholamines (NE, DA, and HVA). The 24-hour urinary HVA values of the CR-PTSD patients correlated significantly and positively with the total Impact of Event Scale scores and the avoidance symptoms cluster scores, and the PPP 5-HT levels correlated negatively with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale scores. The PPP NE/5-HT ratio was significantly higher in the study group than in the control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe this combined enhanced noradrenergic activity and diminished 5-HT activity may be relevant to the neurobiology of CR-PTSD.
Spivak
B
B
Research Unit, Ness Ziona Mental Health Center, Israel.
Vered
Y
Y
Graff
E
E
Blum
I
I
Mester
R
R
Weizman
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D004298:Dopamine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D010976:Platelet Count; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology
D015415:Biomarkers; D012701:Serotonin; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid