title: Altered neurotransmitter levels with post-traumatic stress disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to observe the changes in the monoamine neurotransmitter levels of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and explore whether the neurotransmitter level is correlated with the severity of PTSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 15 PTSD patients without any physical injuries were enrolled into the study. Another 15 cases of pre-restoration patients were recruited as controls who experienced traumatic events but did not experience PTSD or had a Posttraumatic stress disorder Check List-Civilian version (PCL-C) score lower than 12 points. The levels of plasma monoamine neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and dopamine, were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences were found between the monoamine neurotransmitter levels of the PTSD and the control groups (p > 0.05). A correlation study confirmed that the monoamine neurotransmitter levels and the PCL-C scores of the PTSD group were not significantly correlated (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No neurotransmitter changes are seen in PTSD caused by simple mental trauma, and the PCL-C scores do not associate with PTSD.
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University, College of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Psychology, Shihezi, China.
authors.forename: Gui-Qing
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian-Xia
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yue-Qi
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000097:blood*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents