Metabolic syndrome, somatic and psychiatric comorbidity in war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder: Preliminary findings.
BACKGROUND
There has been a growing interest in the effect that co-morbid mental and somatic disorders may have on each other. Post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) have been associated with comorbidity of many major somatic and mental disorders as well as with premature mortality.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between combat-related PTSD, metabolic syndrome and comorbid psychiatric and somatic diagnoses.


METHODS
Metabolic syndrome and its components as well as comorbid somatic and mental disorders were analysed in 47 male war veterans with combat PTSD.


RESULTS
Only 4.25% of our patients were without any comorbid somatic and mental disorders, metabolic syndrome or any of its components. Other psychiatric or medical condition was diagnosed in 76.6 % of the PTSD patients. Metabolic syndrome according NCEP: ATP III was found in 31.9% of our PTSD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
PTSD is multisystemic mental and somatic disorder. The treatment of war veterans with PTSD should address comorbid other mental and somatic disorders including metabolic syndrome as well as the clinical features of PTSD.
Jakovljević
Miro
M
University Psychiatric Clinic Rebro, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kispatićeva 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. miro.jakovljevic@mef.hr
Sarić
Marija
M
Nad
Sanea
S
Topić
Radmila
R
Vuksan-Cusa
Bjanka
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D017523:Croatia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014857:Warfare