Platelet serotonin in combat related posttraumatic stress disorder with psychotic symptoms.
BACKGROUND
Combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is severe form of PTSD, frequently associated with psychotic symptoms. Platelet serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) was used as a peripheral 5-HT marker to identify particular symptoms in PTSD.


METHODS
Platelet 5-HT was determined fluorimetrically in 67 war veterans with combat related PTSD, 36 combat exposed veterans who did not develop PTSD, 35 veterans with PTSD complicated with psychotic features. PTSD diagnosis of current and chronic PTSD, and clinical symptoms of PTSD and psychoses were assessed according to DSM-IV criteria, using the Clinician Administrated PTSD Scale, and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS).


RESULTS
Platelet 5-HT concentration was significantly higher in veterans with psychotic PTSD than in veterans with non-psychotic PTSD, veterans without PTSD, or in control subjects. Platelet 5-HT was significantly positively correlated with the positive symptoms in PANSS subscale, and with the symptoms of delusions within PANSS positive subscale.


CONCLUSIONS
The results were obtained on peripheral 5-HT marker, i.e. platelet 5-HT concentration.


CONCLUSIONS
Since the delusions are the core psychotic symptoms occurring in our psychotic PTSD patients, the result of the increased platelet 5-HT concentration, associated with delusions, indicate that platelet 5-HT might be used as a trait marker of psychotic symptoms in PTSD, but not as a state marker for PTSD.
Pivac
Nela
N
Ruder Boskovic Institute, PO Box 180, HR-10002 Zagreb, Croatia. npivac@irb.hr
Kozaric-Kovacic
Dragica
D
Mustapic
Maja
M
Dezeljin
Martina
M
Borovecki
Andreja
A
Grubisic-Ilic
Mirjana
M
Muck-Seler
Dorotea
D
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003702:Delusions / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D012016:Reference Values; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology
D015415:Biomarkers; D012701:Serotonin