Oxidative status and the severity of clinical symptoms in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to measure the parameters of oxidative stress in the blood of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.


METHODS
The study included 80 male war veterans who participated actively in the Homeland war in Croatia. Volunteers were divided into two groups: 50 veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and 30 without diagnosis. The self-assessment Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory were used to detect the severity of depression and anxiety in the post-traumatic stress disorder patients. Catalytic concentrations of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes and the concentration of malondialdehyde in serum were measured spectrophotometrically.


RESULTS
Although the catalytic concentrations of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase were within the reference range for both groups, the values obtained for the post-traumatic stress disorder group were significantly lower (P<0.001). For serum malondialdehyde concentrations, no statistically significant differences between the groups were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower catalytic concentrations of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder may indicate a weaker response to oxidative stress due to impaired enzyme activity and/or decreased synthesis. Conversely, no significant changes in serum malondialdehyde concentrations suggest a compensated balance and adaptive response to (oxidative) stress.
School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Leda
L
Borovac Štefanović
School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia.
Dubravka
D
Kalinić
School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia.
Ninoslav
N
Mimica
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Blanka
B
Beer Ljubić
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Jasna
J
Aladrović
School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Marina
M
Mandelsamen Perica
School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Maja
M
Curić
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
Petra Folnegović
PF
Grošić
School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia ivancica.delas@mef.hr.
Ivančica
I
Delaš
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D017523:Croatia; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014728:Veterans
D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase
Enzymes; enzymatic methods; nutrition