P0082 - Cortisol, suicidality and spiritual well-being in Croatian war veterans suffering from PTSD

Abstract

Biological, psychological and spiritual parameters have been frequently associated with the wellbeing of psychiatric patients. War veterans suffering from PTSD reveal a low basal plasma cortisol level and an enhanced cortisol response to the dexamethasone test, reflecting a hypersensitiveness of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HHA). The level of HHA disregulation can be caused by many factors; among others it depends on the spirituality/religiosity level.

The aim of this work is to observe the relationship between the cortisol level, the level of spiritual wellbeing and its components (religious and existential well-being) and suicidal tendency in Croatian war veterans suffering from PTSD.

The survey has been conducted on 17 war veterans satisfying the DSM-IV criteria for the PTSD diagnosis and not suffering from any serious somatic illnesses.

The spiritual wellbeing has been determined by the score on the Spiritual Well-Being Scale (SWB); suicidal risk was determined by the Suicide Assessment Scale (SUAS) and Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS); the plasma cortisol level was obtained by venepunction from the cubital vein and an excretion curve for every examinee (8, 12, 13, 16, 22 hours) was obtained.

Results demonstrate a higher cortisol level in the group with lower spiritual wellbeing and higher suicide risk. Obtained results confirm our hypotheses.

Limitations of this study were a small sample size and adjusted pharmacotherapy.