PTSD and depression severity are associated with cardiovascular disease symptoms in trauma-exposed women
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2023-11-01
|
| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2234810 |
| _version_ | 1797772924317335552 |
|---|---|
| author | Natalie C. Noble Julia B. Merker Theresa K. Webber Kerry J. Ressler Antonia V. Seligowski |
| author_facet | Natalie C. Noble Julia B. Merker Theresa K. Webber Kerry J. Ressler Antonia V. Seligowski |
| author_sort | Natalie C. Noble |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:58:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3efd95e6112249eca19eb58bed9b3c52 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T21:58:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3efd95e6112249eca19eb58bed9b3c522023-07-25T10:41:49ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662023-11-0114210.1080/20008066.2023.22348102234810PTSD and depression severity are associated with cardiovascular disease symptoms in trauma-exposed womenNatalie C. Noble0Julia B. Merker1Theresa K. Webber2Kerry J. Ressler3Antonia V. Seligowski4McLean HospitalMcLean HospitalMcLean HospitalMcLean HospitalMcLean HospitalBackground: 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.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2234810ptsddepressionanhedoniacardiovascularblood pressure |
| spellingShingle | Natalie C. Noble Julia B. Merker Theresa K. Webber Kerry J. Ressler Antonia V. Seligowski PTSD and depression severity are associated with cardiovascular disease symptoms in trauma-exposed women European Journal of Psychotraumatology ptsd depression anhedonia cardiovascular blood pressure |
| title | PTSD and depression severity are associated with cardiovascular disease symptoms in trauma-exposed women |
| title_full | PTSD and depression severity are associated with cardiovascular disease symptoms in trauma-exposed women |
| title_fullStr | PTSD and depression severity are associated with cardiovascular disease symptoms in trauma-exposed women |
| title_full_unstemmed | PTSD and depression severity are associated with cardiovascular disease symptoms in trauma-exposed women |
| title_short | PTSD and depression severity are associated with cardiovascular disease symptoms in trauma-exposed women |
| title_sort | ptsd and depression severity are associated with cardiovascular disease symptoms in trauma exposed women |
| topic | ptsd depression anhedonia cardiovascular blood pressure |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2234810 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nataliecnoble ptsdanddepressionseverityareassociatedwithcardiovasculardiseasesymptomsintraumaexposedwomen AT juliabmerker ptsdanddepressionseverityareassociatedwithcardiovasculardiseasesymptomsintraumaexposedwomen AT theresakwebber ptsdanddepressionseverityareassociatedwithcardiovasculardiseasesymptomsintraumaexposedwomen AT kerryjressler ptsdanddepressionseverityareassociatedwithcardiovasculardiseasesymptomsintraumaexposedwomen AT antoniavseligowski ptsdanddepressionseverityareassociatedwithcardiovasculardiseasesymptomsintraumaexposedwomen |