@article{
author = "Savic, Danka and Knezevic, Goran and Matić, Gordana and Damjanovic, Svetozar and Spiric, Zeljko",
year = "2015",
abstract = "A disturbed beta-endorphin system can be a part of the post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) and depression allostasis. Study subjects (N=392)
included those with PTSD and/or (stress-induced) depression, and healthy
controls with and without traumas. The aim of the study was to examine
the network of relations centered around plasma beta-endorphin. The
network included anxiety (as a personality trait), traumatic events,
pain, aggressiveness, depressive symptoms, and three clusters of PTSD
symptoms: intrusions, avoidance, and hyperarousal. Beta-endorphin was
represented by individual mean from 13 time points (BEmean), reflecting
the total amount of the peripherally secreted hormone, and the
coefficient of variation (BEvar), calculated as the ratio of standard
deviation to the mean, reflecting the hormone's dynamics. BEvar
correlated with all other variables, BEmean had no correlations.
Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to examine all
interrelations (including their directions) of BEvar and the state/trait
variables in the context of their entirety. The model revealed that
hyperarousal and anxiety were the only direct agents of peripheral
beta-endorphin fluctuations, mediating the effects of other variables.
Traumatic events and intrusions act on BEvar via hyperarousal, while
depressive symptoms, avoidance, and pain act via anxiety. Hyperarousal
should be emphasized as the main agent not only because its effect on
BEvar is larger than that of anxiety, but also because it increases
anxiety itself (via avoidance and pain). All influences on BEvar are
positive and they indicate long-term (sensitizing) effects (as opposed
to direct stimulation, for example, by acute pain, anger, etc.).
Relations apart from beta-endorphin are also discussed. (C) 2015
Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved,",
journal = "Journal of Affective Disorders",
title = "Posttraumatic and depressive symptoms in beta-endorphin dynamics",
volume = "181",
doi = "10.1016/j.jad.2015.03.063",
pages = "61-66"
}