Social integration and inflammation in individuals with and without posttraumatic stress disorder.

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with increased risk for morbidity and mortality, which may be mediated through elevated inflammation. In contrast, social support appears to protect against morbidity and mortality, reduce levels of inflammation, and improve PTSD outcomes.

Methods: We examined relationships among social isolation, perceived social support, and inflammation in Veterans Affairs (VA) patients with and without PTSD.

Longitudinal association of PTSD symptoms and self-reported physical functioning among Veterans.

Background: Few longitudinal studies have investigated the potentially dynamic relationship between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and physical functioning, and the number of follow-up timepoints have been limited. We evaluated whether PTSD symptoms predicted future physical functioning and vice versa using five assessments over four years.

Methods: Data was used from a longitudinal cohort of 695 participants recruited from Veteran Affairs medical outpatient clinics who experienced a traumatic event.

Current posttraumatic stress disorder and exaggerated threat sensitivity associated with elevated inflammation in the Mind Your Heart Study.

Objective: Elevated inflammation has been repeatedly observed in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and it may drive the development of both psychiatric symptoms and physical comorbidities. However, it is not clear if elevated inflammation is a feature of both remitted and current PTSD, and little is known about relationships between specific clusters of PTSD symptoms and inflammation. Exaggerated threat sensitivity, as indexed by threat reactivity and avoidance of perceived threats, may be particularly closely associated with inflammation.