title: Platelet monoamine oxidase activity, ego strength, and neuroticism in soldiers with combat-related current posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess possible differences in platelet monoamino oxidase-B (MAO-B) activity, ego strength, and neuroticism in combat-experienced soldiers with or without current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  
  
  METHODS
  The soldiers with current PTSD (N=36) and a control group of 34 healthy soldiers were matched in combat experience, time passed between combat experience and the study, demographic variables (age, marital status, education), and smoking status. Platelet MAO-B was assayed fluorometrically, ego strength was measured by the Croatian version of the Ego Identity Scale, and neuroticism by the N-scale from Eysenck's EPQ-R questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Soldiers with combat-related current PTSD had lower platelet MAO-B activity than the control group (9.1+/-3.9 vs. 11.9+/-4.0; p<0.05), as well as lower ego-strength (86.3+/-8.3 vs. 108.6+/-13.4; p<0.05) and higher neuroticism (23.5+/-13.2 vs. 5. 9+/-4.7; p<0.05). There was no association of ego strength or neuroticism with platelet MAO-B activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ego identity strength and emotional stability are associated with successful coping with combat trauma. The involvement of platelet MAO-B activity in biological basis of ego strength and neuroticism could not be demonstrated.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Psychotrauma, Department of Psychiatry, Dubrava University Hospital, Avenija Gojka Suska 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia, tljubin@kondor.fkz.hr
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kozarić-Kovacić
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ljubin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rutić-Puz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mihaljević
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jernej
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cicin-Sain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000201:enzymology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004532:Ego; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D008995:Monoamine Oxidase / Q000097:blood*; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000523:psychology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D008995:Monoamine Oxidase