Women with PTSD ‘more likely to experience immune system reaction’

New studies from the US have revealed that women are more susceptible than men to experience an immune system reaction as a result of chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Research conducted by San Francisco VA Medical Center and the University of California, San Francisco has revealed significant evidence that women with PTSD experience increased immune activation, whereas no evidence of this kind was seen among men.

The scientists responsible for the small-scale study described these findings as "unexpected", theorising it may be due to gender differences in cell signalling pathways.

Although larger trials are required to confirm this conclusion, it could prove vital in informing researchers as to how PTSD can affect patients' risk of autoimmune or inflammation-related disorders.

Lead author Aoife O'Donovan said: "They also point us in the direction of some potential treatment targets, telling us where future investigative energy might be well spent."

According to NHS data, around five percent of men and ten percent of women experience PTSD at some point in their life, with 40 percent of sufferers developing the condition after the death of a loved one.