Association of posttraumatic stress disorder with increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Few studies have compared prevalence rates of metabolic abnormalities in antipsychotic-treated patients with different psychiatric disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this study, we examined components of metabolic syndrome among middle-aged and older patients with psychiatric disorders.


METHODS
In the study, 203 outpatients older than 40 years and with psychotic symptoms that needed antipsychotic treatment were enrolled. Among them, 65 had a diagnosis of schizophrenia, 56 had dementia, 49 had mood disorder, and 33 had PTSD. Clinical evaluations included medical history, use of psychotropic and other medications, adverse effects, physical examination, and clinical laboratory tests for metabolic profiles.


RESULTS
Overall, the prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome were 72% in patients with PTSD, 60% in those with schizophrenia, 58% in those with mood disorder, and 56% in those with dementia. There were significant differences in body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol among the 4 diagnostic groups. Posttraumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and mood disorder groups had significantly higher body mass indexes compared with the dementia group. The PTSD group also had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure compared with the dementia and mood disorder groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Posttraumatic stress disorder may be associated with worsened metabolic profile. The overall frequency of metabolic syndrome and its components in patients with PTSD taking antipsychotics seemed to be at least equivalent, if not slightly worse, compared with that in patients with schizophrenia, dementia, or a mood disorder.
Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA. hjin@ucsd.edu
Hua
H
Jin
Nicole M
NM
Lanouette
Sunder
S
Mudaliar
Robert
R
Henry
David P
DP
Folsom
Srikriskna
S
Khandrika
Danielle K
DK
Glorioso
Dilip V
DV
Jeste
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055105:Waist Circumference
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL