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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : May 10, 2015 1:22 PM IST
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People who have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be at a risk of accelerated ageing. Post traumatic stress disorder refers to significant stress occurring after a traumatic incident like the death of a loved one, or any other great tragedy.
This is the first study of its type to link PTSD, a psychological disorder with no established genetic basis, which is caused by external, traumatic stress, with long-term, systemic effects on a basic biological process such as ageing, said Dilip V. Jeste, professor of psychiatry at University of California - San Diego.
How was the study conducted?
Jeste and colleagues conducted a comprehensive review of published empirical studies relevant to early ageing in PTSD, covering multiple databases going back to the year 2000.
The team identified 64 relevant studies; 22 were suitable for calculating overall effect sizes for biomarkers and 10 for mortality.
Seven of 10 studies indicated a mild-to-moderate association of PTSD with earlier mortality, consistent with an early onset or acceleration of ageing in PTSD. Read about why PTSD risk is higher in some people.
These findings do not speak to whether accelerated ageing is specific to PTSD, but they do argue the need to re-conceptualize PTSD as something more than a mental illness, said first author James B. Lohr, professor of psychiatry.
Our findings warrant a deeper look at this phenomenon and a more integrated medical-psychiatric approach to their care, Lohr concluded.
The study appeared online in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. Read how blueberries can help those suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Source: IANS
Image source: Getty Images
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