Altered neurotransmitter levels with post-traumatic stress disorder.

AIM The aim of this study was to observe the changes in the monoamine neurotransmitter levels of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and explore whether the neurotransmitter level is correlated with the severity of PTSD. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 15 PTSD patients without any physical injuries were enrolled into the study. Another 15 cases of pre-restoration patients were recruited as controls who experienced traumatic events but did not experience PTSD or had a Posttraumatic stress disorder Check List-Civilian version (PCL-C) score lower than 12 points. The levels of plasma monoamine neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and dopamine, were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS No significant differences were found between the monoamine neurotransmitter levels of the PTSD and the control groups (p > 0.05). A correlation study confirmed that the monoamine neurotransmitter levels and the PCL-C scores of the PTSD group were not significantly correlated (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION No neurotransmitter changes are seen in PTSD caused by simple mental trauma, and the PCL-C scores do not associate with PTSD.