Post traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD is a serious psychiatric disorder affecting some victims of trauma. According to the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, the estimated lifetime prevalence, or the percentage of people who will display signs of PTSD in their lifetime, among American adults is 6.8 percent. Women are nearly twice as likely as men to experience the disorder. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to mood and depression and could potentially play a role in relieving PTSD symptoms.
Symptoms of PTSD
PTSD is classified as an anxiety disorder because anxiety. People with PTSD have experienced an extreme trauma such as combat or abuse and develop symptoms related to the trauma: nightmares, intrusive thoughts, becoming easily agitated or startled, and avoiding places and people that remind them of the trauma characterize the condition. Symptoms of PTSD can appear similar to panic attacks; however, they are usually related to the traumatic event. People with PTSD also experience depressive symptoms, such as not being interested in activities that they once enjoyed and feeling disconnected from others.
Vitamin D
Not many foods are naturally high in vitamin D, leaving many adults vitamin D deficient. The skin of certain fatty fish and fish liver oils contain vitamin D. Eggs and fortified milk also have the vitamin in smaller quantities. Many individuals receive vitamin D through sun exposure and ultra-violet rays, but smog, cloud cover and the increasing time people spend indoors, prevents many individuals from receiving enough vitamin D through sunlight. A deficiency in vitamin D can lead to weak bones and affect moods. People deficient in vitamin D show signs of increased anxiety, a key symptom of PTSD.
Relationship
Preliminary research suggests that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the depression and anxiety of people with PTSD. A well-documented study published in "Clinical Rheumatology" investigated vitamin D deficiency in patients with fibromyalgia. In the study, 75 patients with fibromyalgia completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Score, or HADS. HADS is a questionnaire designed to assess symptoms of depression and anxiety in patients. The higher results suggest symptoms of depression and anxiety. Patients with vitamin D deficiency scored higher on the HADS than the other study participants.
Considerations
The relationship between vitamin D and PTSD is not well established at this point. Only one major study has been completed that displays a correlation between anxiety and vitamin D deficiency. The recommended treatments for PTSD are a combination of medications and therapy. Some individuals with PTSD may decide to add vitamin D to their diet to help relieve symptoms. Fish oil is one way to increase vitamin D intake. It is important that patients with PTSD continue to take their prescribed medications.
References
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs; Epidemiology of PTSD;
- Psych Central; Symptoms and Diagnosis of PTDS; Harold Cohen; April 2008
- National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin D
- "Clinical Rheumatology"; Vitamin D Deficiency is Associated With Anxiety and Depression in Fibromyalgia; D.J. Armstrong, et al; July 2006
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs; Overview of PTSD Treatments; Jessica L. Hamblen, et. al; July 2010
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