Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Noble, Natalie C.
• Merker, Julia B.
• Webber, Theresa K.
• Ressler, Kerry J.
• Seligowski, Antonia V.

Titel

PTSD and depression severity are associated with cardiovascular disease symptoms in trauma-exposed women

Ist Teil von

• European journal of psychotraumatology, 2023, Vol.14 (2), p.2234810-2234810

Ort / Verlag

United States: Taylor & Francis

Erscheinungsjahr

2023

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Epidemiological studies have revealed these illnesses to be highly comorbid, particularly among women. In the current study, we explored associations between indices of cardiovascular health, PTSD, and depression among a sample of trauma-exposed individuals assigned female at birth. Methods: Participants were N = 49 individuals without CVD who reported lifetime Criterion A trauma exposure. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) were collected during a 5-minute resting period. Symptoms of CVD (e.g. extremity pain and swelling, shortness of breath), PTSD, and depression were assessed, along with an exploratory measure of anhedonia. Results: Trauma exposure was positively correlated with systolic BP (r = .32, p = .029) and diastolic BP (r = .30, p = .040). The number of reported CVD symptoms was positively correlated with symptoms of PTSD (r = .41, p = .004), depression (r = .40, p = .005) and anhedonia (r = .38, p = .007). CVD symptoms were also significantly associated with PTSD (β = .41, t = 2.43, p = .023), depression (β = .40, t = 2.76, p = .009), and anhedonia (β = .38, t = 2.51, p = .017) after controlling for age and trauma exposure. These associations were not moderated by HF-HRV in our sample. Conclusions: Our results support the association between PTSD and depressive symptoms and worse cardiovascular functioning among an often-overlooked population that is particularly vulnerable to these illnesses. Future studies should investigate residual impacts of PTSD and depression treatment on CVD risk among trauma-exposed individuals, particularly women. Trauma exposure and PTSD are associated with depression and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We explored cardiovascular health, PTSD, and depression among 49 trauma-exposed individuals assigned female at birth. Trauma exposure positively correlated with blood pressure. CVD symptoms were positively correlated with PTSD, depression, and anhedonia. Associations were not moderated by heart rate variability.