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Chong Lau H, Sinnott SM, Abohashem S, Civieri G, Aldosoky W, Karam K, Khalil M, Qamar I, Rosovsky RP, Osborne MT, Tawakol A, Seligowski AV. Posttraumatic stress disorder increases thrombosis risk: Evidence from a biobank data set. Am J Hematol 2024. [PMID: 39207181 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.27468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Depression and anxiety are linked to deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and posttraumatic disorder (PTSD) increases risk of venous thromboembolism in women. However, the mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unknown. We hypothesized that PTSD would associate with increased DVT risk, that neuroimmune mechanisms would mediate the PTSD-DVT link, and that these associations would be stronger in women. This cohort study included N = 106 427 participants from a large biobank. PTSD and DVT were defined using ICD-10 codes. A subset (N = 1520) underwent imaging, from which we assessed stress-associated neural activity (SNA). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and heart rate variability (HRV) were used as indicators of systemic inflammation and autonomic activity, respectively. Linear, logistic, and Cox regressions and mediation analyses were used to test our hypotheses. Of 106 427 participants, 4192 (3.9%) developed DVT. PTSD associated with increased DVT risk (HR [95% CI]: 1.66 [1.34, 2.07], p < .001), and this finding remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, and traditional DVT risk factors. When analyzed separately by sex, PTSD was significantly associated with DVT risk in women but not men. Further, heightened SNA and lower HRV mediated the effect of PTSD on DVT risk. Results suggest that individuals with PTSD are at increased risk for DVT, and that risk is higher in women. This relationship was partially driven by alterations in stress-associated neural activity and autonomic function, suggesting potential targets for preventive therapies. Future studies are needed to investigate whether intervening on PTSD-DVT mechanisms has downstream beneficial effects on DVT, especially among women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chong Lau
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sinead M Sinnott
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shady Abohashem
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Giovanni Civieri
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Wesam Aldosoky
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Krystel Karam
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maria Khalil
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Iqra Qamar
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rachel P Rosovsky
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael T Osborne
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ahmed Tawakol
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Antonia V Seligowski
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Ellis R, Sinnott S, Karam K, Assefa A, Osborne M, Seligowski A. Impact of cognitive behavioural therapy on neural, inflammatory, & autonomic markers in a sample with PTSD and cardiovascular risk: protocol for a pilot randomised controlled trial. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2378618. [PMID: 39045795 PMCID: PMC11271075 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2024.2378618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at heightened risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to the general population. Inflammation and autonomic dysfunction are candidate mechanisms of CVD risk in PTSD; however, these mechanisms have not been well-characterised in the PTSD-CVD link. Further, these mechanisms may operate through altered stress-related neural activity (SNA). Yet, it remains unknown if changes in PTSD are associated with changes in CVD risk mechanisms.Objective: This manuscript describes the design and procedures of a pilot randomised controlled trial to assess the impact of a first-line treatment for PTSD (Cognitive Processing Therapy; CPT) versus waitlist control on mechanisms of CVD risk. Further, this study will test the hypothesis that CPT reduces CVD risk through its effects on inflammation and autonomic function and that these changes are driven by changes in SNA.Methods: Adults with PTSD and CVD risk (N = 30) will be randomised to CPT or waitlist control. Participants complete two laboratory visits (baseline and post-treatment) that include surveys, brain and peripheral imaging via 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET), and resting measures of autonomic function. Primary outcomes include arterial inflammation and heart rate variability. Secondary outcomes include leukopoiesis (bone marrow uptake), heart rate, and blood pressure. The indirect effects of PTSD treatment on changes in inflammation and autonomic function through SNA will also be examined.Conclusions: This study seeks to characterise candidate neuroimmune mechanisms of the PTSD-CVD link to identify treatment targets and develop personalised interventions to reduce CVD events in PTSD populations.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06429293..
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Ellis
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Sinead Sinnott
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Krystel Karam
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alula Assefa
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Osborne
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Antonia Seligowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Zantvoord JB, Ensink JBM, Op den Kelder R, Diehle J, Lok A, Lindauer RJL. Autonomic nervous system function before and after trauma-focused psychotherapy in youth with (partial) posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 162:106945. [PMID: 38244488 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
While trauma-focused psychotherapies have been shown effective in youth with PTSD, the relationship between treatment response and alterations in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) associated with PTSD, remains incompletely understood. During neutral and personalized trauma script imagery heart rate (HR), pre-ejection period (PEP) and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were recorded in youth aged 8-18 with PTSD or partial PTSD (n = 76) and trauma-exposed controls (TEC) (n = 27) to determine ANS activity and stress reactivity. Within the patient group, 77.6% met the full DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for PTSD, the remaining 22.4% met the criteria for partial PTSD. Youth with (partial) PTSD were subsequently treated with eight sessions of either trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. PTSD severity was assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD scale for Children and Adolescents to divide patients into responders and non-responders. Youth with (partial) PTSD relative to TEC had higher overall HR during both neutral and trauma imagery (p = .05). Youth with (partial) PTSD showed RSA decrease during trauma imagery relative to neutral imagery, the reverse of TEC (p = .01). Relative to non-responders, responders demonstrated a significant baseline to posttreatment increase of RSA response to stress only when employing a ≥ 50% response criterion (p = .05) and not with the primary ≥ 30% criterion (p = .12). Our results suggest overall higher HR and sympathetic nervous system activity as well as vagal withdrawal in response to stress in youth with (partial) PTSD and only provide partial support for normalization of the latter with successful trauma-focused psychotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper B Zantvoord
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Judith B M Ensink
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Levvel, Academic Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rosanne Op den Kelder
- Levvel, Academic Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Julia Diehle
- WODC-Research and Documentation Centre, The Hague, the Netherlands
| | - Anja Lok
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ramon J L Lindauer
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Levvel, Academic Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Wiltshire CN, Kouri N, Wanna CP, Minton ST, France JM, Reda MH, Davie W, Basarkod S, Winters S, Hinrichs R, Stenson AF, Jovanovic T. Resting heart rate associations with violence exposure and posttraumatic stress symptoms: sex differences in children. Biol Sex Differ 2024; 15:28. [PMID: 38549155 PMCID: PMC10976797 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-024-00606-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic events experienced in childhood can lead to increased risk of cardiovascular disorders in adulthood. Black Americans are disproportionately affected, as they are at increased risk for experiencing childhood trauma and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. One of the hypothesized mechanisms of this association is through long-lasting dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system, a hallmark physiological biomarker of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is twice as prevalent in women compared to men. METHODS Ninety-one, majority Black American children, aged 9 were recruited to be a part of our longitudinal study of child development at research centers in Atlanta, GA and Detroit, MI. Resting HR was measured through a electrocardiogram (ECG) recording using the Biopac MP150. Self-report measures of violence exposure and PTSD symptoms were administered by research staff. RESULTS Children with more violence exposure reported increased PTSS as well as lower resting HR. Regression analysis showed evidence of sex modifying this relationship, (B = -0.64, p < 0.05), such that the association between resting HR and PTSS was stronger in girls than in boys. In our exploratory analysis with standard clinical cutoffs of resting HR, the normative HR group was found to significantly moderate the relationship between violence exposure and PTSS in boys, (B = -2.14, p < 0.01), but not girls (B = -0.94, p = 0.27). CONCLUSION In our sample of primarily Black urban children, we found that violence exposure was associated with slower, more adult-like HR, that girls showed greater PTSS associated with slower HR while boys did not, and that girls with lower than normative HR showed significantly higher PTSS compared to girls with normative HR. Our sample's demonstration of psychological consequences in addition to the physiological implications could provide new information about a psychobiological sequelae of violence exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charis N Wiltshire
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr, Detroit, MI, 48201, US.
- Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Jesse Hill Jr Dr. SE, 30303, Atlanta, GA, US.
| | - Nicole Kouri
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr, Detroit, MI, 48201, US
| | - Cassandra P Wanna
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr, Detroit, MI, 48201, US
| | - Sean T Minton
- Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Jesse Hill Jr Dr. SE, 30303, Atlanta, GA, US
| | - John M France
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr, Detroit, MI, 48201, US
| | - Mariam H Reda
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr, Detroit, MI, 48201, US
| | - William Davie
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr, Detroit, MI, 48201, US
| | - Sattvik Basarkod
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr, Detroit, MI, 48201, US
| | - Sterling Winters
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr, Detroit, MI, 48201, US
| | - Rebecca Hinrichs
- Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Jesse Hill Jr Dr. SE, 30303, Atlanta, GA, US
| | - Anais F Stenson
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr, Detroit, MI, 48201, US
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 3901 Chrysler Service Dr, Detroit, MI, 48201, US
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Novak P, Systrom DM, Marciano SP, Knief A, Felsenstein D, Giannetti MP, Hamilton MJ, Nicoloro-SantaBarbara J, Saco TV, Castells M, Farhad K, Pilgrim DM, Mullally WJ. Mismatch between subjective and objective dysautonomia. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2513. [PMID: 38291116 PMCID: PMC10828385 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52368-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Autonomic symptom questionnaires are frequently used to assess dysautonomia. It is unknown whether subjective dysautonomia obtained from autonomic questionnaires correlates with objective dysautonomia measured by quantitative autonomic testing. The objective of our study was to determine correlations between subjective and objective measures of dysautonomia. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study conducted at Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital Autonomic Laboratory between 2017 and 2023 evaluating the patients who completed autonomic testing. Analyses included validated autonomic questionnaires [Survey of Autonomic Symptoms (SAS), Composite Autonomic Symptom Score 31 (Compass-31)] and standardized autonomic tests (Valsalva maneuver, deep breathing, sudomotor, and tilt test). The autonomic testing results were graded by a Quantitative scale for grading of cardiovascular reflexes, sudomotor tests and skin biopsies (QASAT), and Composite Autonomic Severity Score (CASS). Autonomic testing, QASAT, CASS, and SAS were obtained in 2627 patients, and Compass-31 in 564 patients. The correlation was strong between subjective instruments (SAS vs. Compass-31, r = 0.74, p < 0.001) and between objective instruments (QASAT vs. CASS, r = 0.81, p < 0.001). There were no correlations between SAS and QASAT nor between Compass-31 and CASS. There continued to be no correlations between subjective and objective instruments for selected diagnoses (post-acute sequelae of COVID-19, n = 61; postural tachycardia syndrome, 211; peripheral autonomic neuropathy, 463; myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, 95; preload failure, 120; post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome, 163; hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, 213; neurogenic orthostatic hypotension, 86; diabetes type II, 71, mast cell activation syndrome, 172; hereditary alpha tryptasemia, 45). The lack of correlation between subjective and objective instruments highlights the limitations of the commonly used questionnaires with some patients overestimating and some underestimating true autonomic deficit. The diagnosis-independent subjective-objective mismatch further signifies the unmet need for reliable screening surveys. Patients who overestimate the symptom burden may represent a population with idiosyncratic autonomic-like symptomatology, which needs further study. At this time, the use of autonomic questionnaires as a replacement of autonomic testing cannot be recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Novak
- Autonomic Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - David M Systrom
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sadie P Marciano
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexandra Knief
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Donna Felsenstein
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Infectious Disease and Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew P Giannetti
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Mastocytosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew J Hamilton
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Mastocytosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Tara V Saco
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Mastocytosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mariana Castells
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Mastocytosis Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Khosro Farhad
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David M Pilgrim
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William J Mullally
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Beutler S, Croy I. Psychophysiological reactions during the trauma-film paradigm and their predictive value for intrusions. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2023; 14:2281753. [PMID: 38059504 PMCID: PMC10990446 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2281753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Adequate adaptation of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is crucial in potentially life-threatening situations. The defence cascade provides a descriptive model of progressing dominant physiological reactions in such situations, including cardiovascular parameters and body mobility. The empirical evidence for this model is scarce, and the influence of physiological reactions in this model for predicting trauma-induced intrusions is unresolved.Objectives: Using a trauma-film paradigm, we aimed to test physiological reactions to a highly stressful film as an analogue to a traumatic event along the defence cascade model. We also aimed to examine the predictive power of physiological activity for subsequent intrusive symptoms.Method: Forty-seven healthy female participants watched a stressful and a neutral film in randomized order. Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and body sway were measured. Participants tracked frequency, distress, and quality of subsequent intrusions in a diary for 7 consecutive days.Results: For the stressful film, we observed an initial decrease in HR, followed by an increase, before the HR stabilized at a high level, which was not found during the neutral film. No differences in HRV were observed between the two films. Body sway and trembling frequency were heightened during the stressful film. Neither HR nor HRV predicted subsequent intrusions, whereas perceived distress during the stressful film did.Conclusions: Our results suggest that the physiological trauma-analogue response is characterized by an orientation response and subsequent hyperarousal, reaching a high physiological plateau. In contrast to the assumptions of the defence cascade model, the hyperarousal was not followed by downregulation. Potential explanations are discussed. For trauma-associated intrusions in the subsequent week, psychological distress during the film seems to be more important than physiological distress. Understanding the interaction between physiological and psychological responses during threat informs the study of ANS imbalances in mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Beutler
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Medical Faculty, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Ilona Croy
- Department of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic Medicine, Medical Faculty, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Department of Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany
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Javanbakht A, Grasser LR. Biological Psychiatry in Displaced Populations: What We Know, and What We Need to Begin to Learn. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2022; 7:1242-1250. [PMID: 35580738 PMCID: PMC9678009 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Conflict and climate change continue to displace millions of people, who experience unique trauma and stressors as they resettle in host countries. Both children and adults who are forcibly displaced, or choose to migrate, experience posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions at higher rates than the general population. This may be attributed to severe, cumulative stress and trauma (largely interpersonal traumas); discrimination and harassment in host countries; and structural barriers to accessing and addressing mental health concerns, including clinician availability, language barriers, cultural differences, geographic accessibility, health care access, and stigma. Despite high exposure to and clinical impact of such experiences, and despite representing 1% of the world population, forcibly displaced people are underrepresented in neuroscientific research. The availability of such literature and research findings is significant in understanding the unique genetic and cultural aspects of trauma- and stress-related mental health, advocacy, reducing stigma, informing prevention, and treatment. The present work aimed to explore how the field of neuroscience can address mental health equity for individuals who have been uprooted in relation to land, with a focus on refugee populations. We offer practical suggestions on how to improve research in this area and narrow the gap in knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arash Javanbakht
- Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan.
| | - Lana Ruvolo Grasser
- Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
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8
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Polimanti R, Wendt FR, Pathak GA, Tylee DS, Tcheandjieu C, Hilliard AT, Levey DF, Adhikari K, Gaziano JM, O'Donnell CJ, Assimes TL, Stein MB, Gelernter J. Understanding the comorbidity between posttraumatic stress severity and coronary artery disease using genome-wide information and electronic health records. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3961-3969. [PMID: 35986173 PMCID: PMC10986859 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01735-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The association between coronary artery disease (CAD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) contributes to the high morbidity and mortality observed for these conditions. To understand the dynamics underlying PTSD-CAD comorbidity, we investigated large-scale genome-wide association (GWA) statistics from the Million Veteran Program (MVP), the UK Biobank (UKB), the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, and the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D Consortium. We observed a genetic correlation of CAD with PTSD case-control and quantitative outcomes, ranging from 0.18 to 0.32. To investigate possible cause-effect relationships underlying these genetic correlations, we performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, observing a significant bidirectional relationship between CAD and PTSD symptom severity. Genetically-determined PCL-17 (PTSD 17-item Checklist) total score was associated with increased CAD risk (odds ratio = 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 1.01-1.06). Conversely, CAD genetic liability was associated with reduced PCL-17 total score (beta = -0.42; 95% CI = -0.04 to -0.81). Because of these opposite-direction associations, we conducted a pleiotropic meta-analysis to investigate loci with concordant vs. discordant effects on PCL-17 and CAD, observing that concordant-effect loci were enriched for molecular pathways related to platelet amyloid precursor protein (beta = 1.53, p = 2.97 × 10-7) and astrocyte activation regulation (beta = 1.51, p = 2.48 × 10-6) while discordant-effect loci were enriched for biological processes related to lipid metabolism (e.g., triglyceride-rich lipoprotein particle clearance, beta = 2.32, p = 1.61 × 10-10). To follow up these results, we leveraged MVP and UKB electronic health records (EHR) to assess longitudinal changes in the association between CAD and posttraumatic stress severity. This EHR-based analysis highlighted that earlier CAD diagnosis is associated with increased PCL-total score later in life, while lower PCL total score was associated with increased risk of a later CAD diagnosis (Mann-Kendall trend test: MVP tau = 0.932, p < 2 × 10-16; UKB tau = 0.376, p = 0.005). In conclusion, both our genetically-informed analyses and our EHR-based follow-up investigation highlighted a bidirectional relationship between PTSD and CAD where multiple pleiotropic mechanisms are likely to be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Polimanti
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, West Haven, CT, USA.
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Frank R Wendt
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, West Haven, CT, USA
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Gita A Pathak
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, West Haven, CT, USA
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Daniel S Tylee
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, West Haven, CT, USA
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - Austin T Hilliard
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Daniel F Levey
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, West Haven, CT, USA
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Keyrun Adhikari
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, West Haven, CT, USA
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - J Michael Gaziano
- Department of Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher J O'Donnell
- Department of Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Themistocles L Assimes
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Murray B Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, Psychiatry Service, San Diego, CA, USA
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Joel Gelernter
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, West Haven, CT, USA
- VA CT Healthcare Center, West Haven, CT, USA
- Departments of Genetics and of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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9
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Seligowski AV, Ressler KJ. Sex Differences in the Co-Occurrence of PTSD and Cardiovascular Disease. Psychiatr Ann 2022. [DOI: 10.3928/00485713-20211226-01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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van Zuiden M, Engel S, Karchoud JF, Wise TJ, Sijbrandij M, Mouthaan J, Olff M, van de Schoot R. Sex-differential PTSD symptom trajectories across one year following suspected serious injury. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2022; 13:2031593. [PMID: 35186216 PMCID: PMC8856115 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2022.2031593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent years have shown an increased application of prospective trajectory-oriented approaches to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although women are generally considered at increased PTSD risk, sex and gender differences in PTSD symptom trajectories have not yet been extensively studied. OBJECTIVE To perform an in-depth investigation of differences in PTSD symptom trajectories across one-year post-trauma between men and women, by interpreting the general trends of trajectories observed in sex-disaggregated samples, and comparing within-trajectory symptom course and prevalence rates. METHOD We included N = 554 participants (62.5% men, 37.5% women) from a multi-centre prospective cohort of emergency department patients with suspected severe injury. PTSD symptom severity was assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-trauma, using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV. Latent growth mixture modelling on longitudinal PTSD symptoms was performed within the sex-disaggregated whole samples. Bayesian modelling with informative priors was applied for reliable model estimation, considering the imbalanced prevalence of the expected latent trajectories. RESULTS In terms of general trends, the same trajectories were observed for men and women, i.e. resilient, recovery, chronic symptoms and delayed onset. Within-trajectory symptom courses were largely comparable, but resilient women had higher symptoms than resilient men. Sex differences in prevalence rates were observed for the recovery (higher in women) and delayed onset (higher in men) trajectories. Model fit for the sex-disaggregated samples was better than for the whole sample, indicating preferred application of sex-disaggregation. Analyses within the whole sample led to biased estimates of overall and sex-specific trajectory prevalence rates. CONCLUSIONS Sex-disaggregated trajectory analyses revealed limited sex differences in PTSD symptom trajectories within one-year post-trauma in terms of general trends, courses and prevalence rates. The observed biased trajectory prevalence rates in the whole sample emphasize the necessity to apply appropriate statistical techniques when conducting sex-sensitive research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjam van Zuiden
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Amsterdam Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute and Amsterdam Neuroscience Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sinha Engel
- Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jeanet F Karchoud
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Amsterdam Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas J Wise
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Amsterdam Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marit Sijbrandij
- Vrije Universiteit, Department of Clinical, Neuro- and Developmental Psychology; Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Dissemination of Psychological Interventions, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joanne Mouthaan
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, Leiden University, AK Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Miranda Olff
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Amsterdam Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute and Amsterdam Neuroscience Research Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands & Arq National Psychotrauma Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rens van de Schoot
- Department of Methodology and Statistics, Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Ćosić K, Popović S, Šarlija M, Kesedžić I, Gambiraža M, Dropuljić B, Mijić I, Henigsberg N, Jovanovic T. AI-Based Prediction and Prevention of Psychological and Behavioral Changes in Ex-COVID-19 Patients. Front Psychol 2021; 12:782866. [PMID: 35027902 PMCID: PMC8751545 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.782866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has adverse consequences on human psychology and behavior long after initial recovery from the virus. These COVID-19 health sequelae, if undetected and left untreated, may lead to more enduring mental health problems, and put vulnerable individuals at risk of developing more serious psychopathologies. Therefore, an early distinction of such vulnerable individuals from those who are more resilient is important to undertake timely preventive interventions. The main aim of this article is to present a comprehensive multimodal conceptual approach for addressing these potential psychological and behavioral mental health changes using state-of-the-art tools and means of artificial intelligence (AI). Mental health COVID-19 recovery programs at post-COVID clinics based on AI prediction and prevention strategies may significantly improve the global mental health of ex-COVID-19 patients. Most COVID-19 recovery programs currently involve specialists such as pulmonologists, cardiologists, and neurologists, but there is a lack of psychiatrist care. The focus of this article is on new tools which can enhance the current limited psychiatrist resources and capabilities in coping with the upcoming challenges related to widespread mental health disorders. Patients affected by COVID-19 are more vulnerable to psychological and behavioral changes than non-COVID populations and therefore they deserve careful clinical psychological screening in post-COVID clinics. However, despite significant advances in research, the pace of progress in prevention of psychiatric disorders in these patients is still insufficient. Current approaches for the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders largely rely on clinical rating scales, as well as self-rating questionnaires that are inadequate for comprehensive assessment of ex-COVID-19 patients' susceptibility to mental health deterioration. These limitations can presumably be overcome by applying state-of-the-art AI-based tools in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of psychiatric disorders in acute phase of disease to prevent more chronic psychiatric consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krešimir Ćosić
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Siniša Popović
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marko Šarlija
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivan Kesedžić
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mate Gambiraža
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Branimir Dropuljić
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Igor Mijić
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Neven Henigsberg
- Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
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