Reuters (10/31, Rapaport) reports a recent study suggests that people “who have stress disorders like PTSD may be more vulnerable to potentially life-threatening infections, especially if they are diagnosed at younger ages or dealing with other psychiatric issues.” Researchers “examined data on 144,919 people diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)” and also “looked at data for 184,612 siblings of these subjects who didn’t have a stress disorder, along with more than 1.4 million unrelated individuals without these disorders.” The study was published in The BMJ, along with an accompanying editorial that the findings add to a large body of evidence linking PTSD and other stress-related mental health problems to an increased risk of poor physical health.
Related Links:
— “Stress disorders tied to risk for life-threatening infections, “Lisa Rapaport, Reuters, October 31, 2019