Cerebrospinal fluid and plasma testosterone levels in post-traumatic stress disorder and tobacco dependence

Background: Little is known about the relationship between endogenous centr al nervous system (CNS) testosterone and any psychiatric syndrome. The goal of this study was to screen for potential abnormalities in CNS testosteron e levels in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or toba cco dependence. Methods: We sampled cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) via a subarachnoid catheter o ver six hours and determined hourly basal CSF concentrations of testosteron e in 11 combat veterans with PTSD and 12 normal volunteers. Smokers were ab stinent for 11-17 h. Testosterone in CSF and matching plasma samples was as sayed by radioimmunoassay. Results: A factor analysis for effects of PTSD status, smoking status and s ample time revealed significant effects of PTSD or smoking status, but not time, on CSF testosterone. CSF testosterone levels were lower in individual s with PTSD as compared with normal volunteers. When divided by smoking sta tus, abstinent smokers had mean CSF testosterone levels higher than those o f non-smokers. A similar analysis of plasma testosterone revealed no signif icant effects of any factor on plasma testosterone. Conclusions: These results indicate that CSF testosterone is significantly influenced by PTSD and smoking status. The exposure of the brain to altered levels of testosterone in smokers and patients with PTSD may have pathophy siologic significance in these conditions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. A ll rights reserved.