Platelet 5-HT concentration and comorbid depression in war veterans with and without posttraumatic stress disorder.
BACKGROUND
The serotonergic system is implicated in the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. The present study focused on platelet serotonin (5-HT) concentration and symptoms of comorbid depression in war veterans with or without PTSD.


METHODS
PTSD and depression were evaluated using Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, Davidson Trauma Scale, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Scale. Sixty-five male drug-free war veterans (48 with PTSD and 17 without PTSD) and 65 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were studied.


RESULTS
Comorbid depression occurred in 54 and 31% of war veterans with PTSD and without PTSD, respectively. Platelet 5-HT concentration was similar in the groups of depressed and nondepressed war veterans with or without PTSD and healthy controls. Platelet 5-HT concentration was found to differ between war veterans with various degrees of appetite loss. A positive correlation was observed between platelet 5-HT concentration and severity of appetite loss in veterans with PTSD. There was no relationship between platelet 5-HT concentration and severity of other symptoms of PTSD or depression.


CONCLUSIONS
War veterans included in the study were outpatients.


CONCLUSIONS
War veterans with PTSD had a high incidence of comorbid depression, that was not related to platelet 5-HT concentration. The marked relationship between platelet 5-HT concentration and severity of appetite loss, suggested that 5-HT system is involved in the regulation of appetite, at least in depressed war veterans with PTSD.
Mück-Seler
Dorotea
D
Laboratory for Molecular Neuropharmacology, Rudjer Bosković Institute, P.O. Box 180, HR-10002, Zagreb, Croatia. seler@rudjer.irb.hr
Pivac
Nela
N
Jakovljević
Miro
M
Sagud
Marina
M
Mihaljević-Peles
Alma
A
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare
D015415:Biomarkers; D012701:Serotonin