Metabolic Syndrome Among People with PTSD: Epidemiological Overview

Previous reports highlighted that traumatic stress exposure may have a key role on both mental and physical health. People suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may have a shorter life expectancy than general population, mainly due to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Several factors may explain this association, but, in recent years, there has been a growing concern on the relationship between metabolic syndrome and PTSD. According to previous reports on both community and special populations’ samples, e.g., war veterans, PTSD is associated with a higher risk of suffering from metabolic syndrome as well as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Clinicians and mental health professionals should regularly assess and screen metabolic alterations among people with PTSD. The potential role of factors and mediators that might explain the nature of the co-occurrence of PTSD and metabolic syndrome – as well as specific interventions addressed to prevent and treat this comorbid condition – need further research.