Presence of certain bacteria in saliva may indicate PTSD in veterans

Scientific developments at Tel Aviv University and Haifa University may promote Use a saliva sample to make a quick, objective, and accurate diagnosis of someone with PTSD. As part of the study, the researchers profiled the psychological, social and medical conditions of about 200 participants while collecting saliva samples.

The results of this study show typical microbial pictures in the saliva of veterans who have experienced combat stress-related responses (from section A Lebanon war), is currently suffering from post-traumatic ordeal.

According to the researchers, these results may contribute to accurate and objective diagnosis of post-traumatic patients in the future and to develop Drugs associated with microorganisms (related to the microbial ecology of the body).

This study was published in Molecular Psychiatry .

This research is a joint effort of scholars in various fields. It is led by Professor Illana Gozes and includes Professor Noam Shomron, Dr. Shlomo Sragovich and Ph.D. Students Guy Shapira, (both from TAU’s Sackler School of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience) and Professor Zahava Solomon from TAU’s Gershon Gordon School of Social Sciences, and Professor Abraham Sagi-Schwartz and Ph.D. Ella Levert-Levitt, student at the Center for Child Development Research and the Faculty of Psychological Sciences at the University of Haifa. Participants in the study were drawn from a larger group in Professor Solomon’s comprehensive four-year study of veterans.

Researchers conducted a survey of some 200 Israeli veterans who had fought in the First Lebanon War in 1982 unique test. The tests covered a variety of psychological aspects, including sleep, appetite disturbances, guilt, suicidal thoughts, social and spousal support, hostility, life satisfaction, and issues such as demographics, psychopathology, welfare, health and education.

Results of a comparative study from researchers at Tel Aviv University and Haifa University found that people with PTSD and high People with psychopathological indications showed the same picture of bacteria in saliva (a unique signature of the oral microbiome). According to the researchers, the study is significant because, for the first time, we are able to diagnose post-trauma by objective criteria, not just behavioral criteria. Interestingly, saliva bacteria from people exposed to air pollution correlated with pictures of PTSD, while years of education showed protective effects and the opposite picture of microbial ecology in saliva.

professor. Illana Gozes said: “To our knowledge, this is the first characterization of the microbiome in the saliva of veterans with PTSD. We were surprised to find that approximately one-third of PTSD subjects were never diagnosed with PTSD. Trauma, so they never got any recognition from the Ministry of Defense and official authorities.”

“Must It is emphasized that, so far, post-traumatic diagnosis has been based only on psychological and psychiatric measures. Thanks to this study, it will be possible in the future to use objective molecular and biological features to differentiate patients with PSTD, taking into account environmental influences. We hope This new finding and the microbial signature described in this study could facilitate easier diagnosis in post-traumatic veterans so that they can receive appropriate treatment.”