Psoriasis, heart disease, and war trauma?

A new study suggests that veterans with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder have higher rates of heart attacks years later.

The new study is the first to document a link between PTSD symptoms and future heart disease, and joins existing evidence that vets with PTSD also have more autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and psoriasis.

The plot thickens (perhaps). Evidence is emerging that psoriasis may increase the risk of heart disease. PTSD and psoriasis show an association. And now PTSD symptoms may be linked to heart disease.

This new study has shortcomings, most notably that it did not control for levels of exercise, and also was not done with PTSD-diagnosed veterans. Rather, these were vets showing some symptoms of PTSD but who fell short of an actual diagnosis.

Still, it adds to the puzzle of psoriasis/stress/inflammation/heart disease/depression/etc., and gives scientists ideas for promising follow-up research.