[Posttraumatic stress disorder : Trigger and consequence of vascular diseases]

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was previously thought to be a psychological reaction precipitated by exposure to war, sexual and physical violence; however, PTSD is also prevalent after life-threatening medical events, such as stroke and myocardial infarction. After such events PTSD is often underdiagnosed despite the fact that it is clearly associated with adverse clinical outcomes including recurrence of cardiac events and increased mortality. Moreover, PTSD increases the risk of vascular events. This review summarizes the bidirectional relationship between PTSD and vascular diseases and outlines current knowledge regarding clinical features, prevalence and the putative underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.