title: Platelet 5-HT concentration and comorbid depression in war veterans with and without posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Molecular Neuropharmacology, Rudjer Bosković Institute, P.O. Box 180, HR-10002, Zagreb, Croatia. seler@rudjer.irb.hr
authors.forename: Dorotea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mück-Seler
authors.forename: Nela
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pivac
authors.forename: Miro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakovljević
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sagud
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mihaljević-Peles
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012701:Serotonin