title: Metabolic syndrome and depression in war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and metabolic syndromes are growing public health problems in post-war countries. Understanding the co-morbidity among PTSD, depression and metabolic syndrome has an important clinical and theoretical issue.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between combat-related PTSD, co-morbid depression and metabolic syndrome as well as between severity of depression and metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Metabolic syndrome and co-morbid depression were investigated in 100 male war veterans with combat PTSD and in 79 males who needed medical attention in dispensary of family medicine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metabolic syndrome according NCEP: ATP III was found in 25 % of war veterans with PTSD. Metabolic syndrome was identified more frequently in PTSD patients with co-morbid depression (47.8 %) compared to those without depression (9.1%). PTSD with moderate and severe co-morbid depression was associated with higher rates of metabolic syndrome (78.6% and 90.9% respectively) in comparison with mild depression (26.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PTSD is frequently comorbid with depression, and when the two disorders co-occur, the risk for metabolic syndrome is increased. Treatment of war veterans with PTSD should address co-morbid depression and metabolic syndrome as well as the clinical features of PTSD.
authors.affiliation: University Psychiatric Clinic Rebro, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kispatićeva 12, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. predstojnik_psi@kbc-zagreb.hr
authors.forename: Miro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jakovljević
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Babić
authors.forename: Zeljka
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Crncević
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinac
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maslov
authors.forename: Radmila
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Topić
mesh_terms: D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D035061:Control Groups; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data