Study Of The Correlation Of Clinical Symptoms, Mental Hental Health And Plasma Cortisol Levels Of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

Objective:To study the clinical symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD), to compare plasma cortisol concentration levels in patients with PTSD group, non-PTSD group and normal controls and to study the correlation of clinical symptoms, mental health and plasma cortisol levels.Methods:According to Diagnostic and statistic manual of mental disorders,4th ed (DSM-IV) criteria, all subjects were divided into PTSD group and non-PTSD group. PTSD symptoms were investigated and subjects were assessed with Symptom Checklist-90(SCL-90) and Eysenck Personality Questionnaire(EPQ). Radio-immunity technique was used to test plasma cortisol concentration. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to test the correlation of mental health and plasma cortisol levels.Results:The most common of PTSD symptoms were markedly diminished interest or participation in significant activities(94.29%), irritability or outbursts of anger(94.29%), difficulty falling or staying asleep(91.43%), difficulty concentrating(88.57%) and recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the events(85.71%) respectively. There were different in PTSD symptoms, but recurrent and intrusive distressing recollections of the events, recurrent illusions and hallucinations and selective forgetting, between PTSD group and non-PTSD group(P<0.05). SCL-90 score and all subscores were higher in patients with PTSD than non-PTSD(P<0.01). EPQ-N score was higher in patients with PTSD than non-PTSD(P<0.01). Plasma cortisol concentrations in patients with PTSD(281.57±123.93ng/ml) and those without PTSD(243.39±125.60ng/ml) were all lower than those in normal controls(344.21±86.76ng/ml) (P=0.037, P=0.009). In a Pearson correlation model, plasma cortisol level was significantly positive correlated with interpersonal sensitivity(r=0.446, P=0.008), depression(r=0.428, P=0.019) of SCL-90 and neuroticism(r=0.380, P=0.026) of EPQ.Conclusions:People with traumatic events have some PTSD symptoms, and the mental health are impacted. Plasma cortisol concentrations in patients with PTSD are lower than those in normal controls. And plasma cortisol level is significantly positive correlated with interpersonal sensitivity, depression and neuroticism.