Independent effects of posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis and metabolic syndrome status on prefrontal cortical thickness and subcortical gray matter volumes

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flow chart illustrating the participant selection procedures used to include suitable cases and controls. Patient = participants with a principal diagnosis of PTSD. CMD: common mental disorder; Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview; PTSD: posttraumatic stress disorder.

Table 1. Comparison of socio-demographic, clinical, and biochemical characteristics between patients with PTSD and trauma-exposed controls.

Characteristics	Patients (n = 104)	TEC (n = 97)	Test statistic	p-Value
Age, years, mean (SD)	40.6 (11.8)	42.7 (14.4)	T = −1.11	0.268
Sex, female, yes (%)	84 (81%)	73 (75%)	X^2 = 0.44	0.439
Scanner, 3 T Allegra, yes (%)	71 (68%)	57 (60%)	X^2 = 1.57	0.210
Language, n (%) Afrikaans English	66 (63%) 38 (37%)	61 (63%) 36 (37%)	X^2 = 0.05	0.942
Secondary schooling completed, yes (%)	31 (30%)	36 (37%)	X^2 = 0.90	0.343
Currently employed, yes (%)	35 (34%)	45 (46%)	X^2 = 2.89	0.089
Alcohol use, last 6 months, yes (%)	44 (42.%)	55 (57%)	X^2 = 3.60	0.058
Tobacco use, last 6 months, yes (%)	42 (40%)	40 (41%)	X^2 = 0.01	0.980
CTQ total scores, mean (SD)	57.0 (22.2)	45.8 (16.7)	T = 4.04	<0.001*
LEC-5 total number of lifetime trauma exposures, mean (SD)	8.1 (3.8)	6.0 (3.4)	T = 4.12	<0.001*
CAPS-5 total score, mean (SD)	35.7 (8.3)	5.4 (6.6)	T = 28.7	<0.001*
MetS criteria met, yes (%)	29 (28%)	27 (28%)	X^2 = 0.01	0.99
Body mass index, mean (SD)	28.0 (6.2)	28.3 (6.8)	T = −0.29	0.769
Waist circumference (cm), mean (SD)	88.4 (17.4)	87.7 (14.5)	T = 0.31	0.755
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg), mean (SD)	112 (13.2)	116 (15.2)	T = −0.26	0.734
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg), mean (SD)	83 (12.1)	85 (11.1)	T = −0.35	0.821
Triglycerides, mmol/L, mean (SD)	1.11 (0.6)	1.15 (0.8)	T = −0.38	0.710
Fasting glucose, mmol/L, mean (SD)	5.5 (2.2)	6.1 (2.9)	T = −1.68	0.095
HDL cholesterol, mmol/L, mean (SD)	1.39 (0.38)	1.42 (0.38)	T = −0.77	0.442

Data availability statement

Data pertaining to this study are being used to address additional aims and cannot be shared publicly at this stage. The study collaborative team will review individual requests to access data.