Background: The present study is part of a longitudinal study of recently resettled refugees with the aim of learning which factors in their daily life influence health as measured by self-report and stress-responsive hormones. Methods: In a group of recently resettled refugees with a high incidence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), diagnosed by structured interview, self-rated symptoms of PTSD were followed three times over a period of 9 months after inclusion in the study. Eighty-six individuals were included in the study and 58 subjects (67.4%) completed it. Blood samples were drawn at each examination for assessment of hormone levels. Results: After adjustment for age, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-s) was observed to be higher in non-depressed PTSD cases than in non-PTSD without depression. There was an interaction between PTSD and depression regarding DHEA-s levels. DHEA-s correlated significantly with changes in self-rated symptoms of PTSD at last follow-up; the greater the increase in PTSD symptoms, the greater the increase in plasma DHEA-s. The variation of DHEA-s levels in relation to changes in self-rated health in non-PTSD showed the opposite pattern, although not reaching significance. Conclusions: The finding of changes in DHEA-s should encourage further studies of the role of altered steroid metabolism in PTSD. Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Follow-up study posttraumatic stress disorder Refugees Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate

depression refugee follow up human Longitudinal Studies Refugees middle aged controlled study priority journal Sweden arousal Humans Adolescent male female symptom Psychometrics Article prasterone sulfate Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate major clinical study adult blood analysis steroid metabolism hormone blood level posttraumatic stress disorder age Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic personality assessment