How does PTSD treatment affect cardiovascular, diabetes and metabolic disease risk factors and outcomes? A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE

Prior research indicates PTSD is associated with cardiovascular and metabolic disease. A number of different treatments for PTSD can be effective in reducing PTSD symptoms. The aim of this study is to systematically review studies which determine whether treatment for PTSD is associated with better cardiovascular and metabolic outcomes.

METHOD

Five different databases were searched in a systematic manner, and 11 relevant studies were recovered and analyzed.

FINDINGS

Treatments associated with PTSD improvement and found to be effective in improving cardiovascular or metabolic outcomes among individuals with PTSD include cognitive behavioral therapy (heart rate variability and blood pressure), prolonged exposure (heart rate and heart rate variability) and SSRIs (blood pressure).

CONCLUSIONS

Multiple PTSD treatment modalities were associated with improved cardiovascular health and reduced risk of cardiovascular-related mortality. Given the small sample sizes, lack of follow-up studies and the extensive use of military populations in studies on PTSD and chronic diseases, these results should be interpreted with caution. More studies are needed that assess and verify whether PTSD treatments mitigate the risk for metabolic, diabetic and cardiovascular disease.