Women with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be at greater risk for heart disease. PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by psychological trauma, typically occurring during events such as sexual abuse and rape, physical assault or automobile accidents. A project being conducted by principal investigator Jeff Kibler, Ph.D., and Steven Gold, Ph.D., from the NSU’s Center for Psychological Studies, and Mindy Ma, Ph.D., from the NSU’s Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, is examining the link between PSTD and poor cardiovascular health among young women. The research trio, funded by a National Institutes of Health grant, hope their findings will help to improve the health of women with PTSD.
The June 1, 2010 edition of Florida Trend magazine featured collaborative research being conducted by Jeff Kibler, Ph.D. (CPS), Steven Gold, Ph.D. (CPS), and Mindy Ma, Ph.D. (FAR). The NIH funded project examines cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiovascular reactivity and recovery in response to psychological stressors of women diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compared with depression and non-psychiatric comparison groups.
Research has revealed a relationship between PTSD and poor cardiovascular health. However, compared with male combat veterans, civilians with PTSD (women in particular) have been understudied with regard to cardiovascular risk. Because depression often co-occurs with PTSD and is associated with both heart disease risk and cardiovascular reactivity, it is critical to determine whether PTSD confers greater risk than depression. Thus far 10 graduate and 5 undergraduate assistants have obtained valuable biobehavioral research training from this project.
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