Sympathetic Overactivity in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | High Blood Pressure (Hypertension), Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Cardiology / Vascular Diseases, Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 65 |
| Updated: | 1/26/2019 |
| Start Date: | July 2012 |
| End Date: | December 2020 |
| Contact: | Melanie Jefferson, MS |
| Email: | melanie.l.jefferson@emory.edu |
| Phone: | 404-321-6111 |
Mechanisms of Sympathetic Overactivity in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)and prehypertension (borderline high blood
pressure) are at higher risk for developing high blood pressure and heart disease. The
purpose of this study is to test whether PTSD patients have exaggerated increases in blood
pressure, heart rate, and adrenaline levels during different forms of stress, that might
predispose them to developing high blood pressure and heart disease. This study will also
evaluate whether regular sessions of slow breathing that is guided by a device (RESPeRATE)
improves blood pressure, heart rate, and adrenaline levels during stress in patients with
PTSD and prehypertension.
pressure) are at higher risk for developing high blood pressure and heart disease. The
purpose of this study is to test whether PTSD patients have exaggerated increases in blood
pressure, heart rate, and adrenaline levels during different forms of stress, that might
predispose them to developing high blood pressure and heart disease. This study will also
evaluate whether regular sessions of slow breathing that is guided by a device (RESPeRATE)
improves blood pressure, heart rate, and adrenaline levels during stress in patients with
PTSD and prehypertension.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Prehypertensive and Normotensive Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/ Operation Iraqi
Freedom (OIF)/ Operation New Dawn (OND) veterans with PTSD
- Prehypertensive and Normotensive OEF/OIF/OND veterans without PTSD (controls)
Exclusion Criteria:
- hypertension
- diabetes
- current smoker
- heart or vascular disease
- illicit drug use
- excessive alcohol use (>2 drinks per day)
- hyperlipidemia
- autonomic dysfunction
- treatment with medications known to affect the sympathetic nervous system (clonidine,
beta blockers, ACE inhibitors)
- treatment with MAO inhibitors within the last 14 days
- any serious systemic disease.
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