A study involving Professor Konstantinos Voskarides from UNIC Health has identified connections between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), commonly known as lupus.
The research, published in ‘Rheumatology Oxford‘, shows that more than 11% of lupus patients have PTSD, with women being more affected. The findings indicate that early PTSD treatment might help reduce the risk of developing lupus.
Professor Voskarides, Associate Professor of Genetics and Molecular Biology at both the Medical School and School of Veterinary Medicine, notes that whilst no direct genetic link has been found between the two conditions, there are biological connections through chronic inflammation and immune system disruption.
The study was completed with researchers Konstantinos Parperis, Maria Papachristodoulou, Savvas Psarelis, and Andreas Hadjittofis from UCY, and Chris Derk from UPenn.
This research highlights the need to consider both mental and physical health in patient care. The team recommends early psychiatric evaluation for PTSD patients to help prevent complications and reduce the risk of developing lupus.
The findings add to the understanding that mental health affects physical well-being, particularly in autoimmune conditions.
Source: University of Nicosia | Latest news (https://tinyurl.com/yc88bhft)