Abstract
Background
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric syndrome associated with high levels of sympathetic activation of the
autonomic nervous system. Individuals diagnosed with PTSD have a high propensity for electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities,
atrioventricular conductive defects, and cerebrovascular incidents.
autonomic nervous system. Individuals diagnosed with PTSD have a high propensity for electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities,
atrioventricular conductive defects, and cerebrovascular incidents.
Method
This pilot study compared patients diagnosed with chronic post-war PTSD (n = 30) to patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD; n = 24) and healthy controls (n = 20). Following the completion of the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM (SCID), participants were assessed with
a standard 12-lead ECG.
a standard 12-lead ECG.
Results
ECG abnormalities were observed in 66.7% of PTSD patients and 70.8% of MDD patients. In contrast, only 28.6% of the healthy
control group showed ECG abnormalities. Multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for participants’ sex, smoking
rate, education level, disease duration, and marital status. The results indicated that PTSD and MDD patients were more likely
to have ECG abnormalities than the normal population (odds ratio for PTSD = 12.7, 95% confidence interval 1.9–83.9; and odds
ratio for MDD = 14.9, 95% confidence interval 1.3–170.5).
control group showed ECG abnormalities. Multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for participants’ sex, smoking
rate, education level, disease duration, and marital status. The results indicated that PTSD and MDD patients were more likely
to have ECG abnormalities than the normal population (odds ratio for PTSD = 12.7, 95% confidence interval 1.9–83.9; and odds
ratio for MDD = 14.9, 95% confidence interval 1.3–170.5).
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-6
- DOI 10.1007/s12529-011-9197-y
- Authors
- Habibolah Khazaie, Sleep Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Farabi Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), PO Box 6719851151, Kermanshah, Iran
- Mohammad Reza Saidi, Department of Cardiology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Kermanshah, Iran
- Amir Ali Sepehry, Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- David C. Knight, Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Mahin Ahmadi, Sleep Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Farabi Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), PO Box 6719851151, Kermanshah, Iran
- Farid Najafi, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Population Health, Kermanshah Health Research Center (KHRC), Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Kermanshah, Iran
- Ali Akbar Parvizi, Sleep Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Farabi Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), PO Box 6719851151, Kermanshah, Iran
- Sara Samadzadeh, Sleep Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Farabi Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), PO Box 6719851151, Kermanshah, Iran
- Masoud Tahmasian, Sleep Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, Farabi Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), PO Box 6719851151, Kermanshah, Iran
- Journal International Journal of Behavioral Medicine
- Online ISSN 1532-7558
- Print ISSN 1070-5503