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PMID: 9137116 Published · ppublish English Comparative Study Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Elevated CSF corticotropin-releasing factor concentrations in posttraumatic stress disorder.

The American journal of psychiatry ·Vol. 154 ·No. 5 ·1997-05-00 ·Pages 624-9

Bremner JD, Licinio J, Darnell A, Krystal JH, Owens MJ, Southwick SM, Nemeroff CB, Charney DS

Abstract

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and somatostatin both play important roles in mediating responses to acute and chronic stress. The purpose of this study was to measure CSF concentrations of CRF and somatostatin in patients with chronic combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comparison subjects. Lumbar punctures for collection of CSF were performed in Vietnam combat veterans with PTSD (N = 11) and comparison subjects (N = 17). CSF concentrations of CRF and somatostatin were compared between the two groups. CSF concentrations of CRF were higher in the PTSD patients than in the comparison subjects (mean = 29.0 pg/ml, SD = 7.8, versus mean = 21.9 pg/ml, SD = 6.0). This group difference remained significant after covariance for age. CSF somatostatin concentrations in PTSD patients were higher than those of the comparison subjects (mean = 19.9 pg/ml, SD = 5.4, versus mean = 13.7 pg/ml, SD = 8.0). However, covarying for age reduced the level of significance. Higher CSF CRF concentrations in patients with PTSD may reflect alterations in stress-related neurotransmitter systems. The higher CSF CRF concentrations may play a role in disturbances of arousal in patients with PTSD.

MeSH Terms
Adult Age Factors Arousal/physiology Combat Disorders/cerebrospinal fluid,physiopathology Comorbidity Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone/cerebrospinal fluid Depressive Disorder/cerebrospinal fluid,epidemiology,physiopathology Humans Male Middle Aged Neurotransmitter Agents/physiology Somatostatin/cerebrospinal fluid Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/cerebrospinal fluid,epidemiology,physiopathology
Chemicals
Neurotransmitter Agents Somatostatin Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
Authors & Affiliations
8 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Bremner J D
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn., USA.
Licinio J
Darnell A
Krystal J H
Owens M J
Southwick S M
Nemeroff C B
Charney D S
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Article Info
Journal
The American journal of psychiatry
Abbr.
Am J Psychiatry
ISSN
0002-953X
DOI
10.1176/ajp.154.5.624
Published
1997-05-00
Pages
624-9
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
0370512
PMCID
PMC3233756
Subset
IM
Grants
NIMH NIH HHS · R01 MH056120-12 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · R01 MH056120 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · MH-42088 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · R01 MH042088 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · MH-51761 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1176/ajp.154.5.624 PMC Full Text View journal details
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