Metabolic Syndrome and Mental Health in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Patients

Abstract Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an abnormal physiologic and psychological reaction in person with severe traumatic history. In recent studies, the relationship between PTSD and some other disease apparently unrelated to psychological situations such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome has been revealed. Thus, the aim of this study was to survey the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and mental health in PTSD patients. Methods: The research design was retrospective cohort study. Subjects were consisted of 142 Iran-Iraq war veterans with PTSD (age: 40-60 years) and the control group was consisted of 153 veterans without PTSD. Data was collected using questionnaires, physical exams and laboratory tests.Results: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 45.1%in PTSD group and 17% in control group. In addition blood pressure, triglyceride and fasting blood sugar in PTSD group were significantly higher than control group (p<0.05). Also, PTSD patients had significant high rates of psychiatric disorders.Conclusion: PTSD patients are more prone to metabolic syndrome and psychiatric disorders than control group.