Table 2.

Results of t-tests comparing PTSD and non-PTSD group means for plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and cerebrospinal fluid neuroactive steroids and ratios.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Neuroactive Steroid Indices (pg/ml)	TC Mean ± SD (n)	PTSD Mean ± SD (n)	ta	dfa	Pa	Cohen’s d [95% CI]a
Progesterone	13.0 ± 12.2	17.1 ± 11.6	0.87	23.7	.39	0.34 [−0.47; 1.16]
(PROG)	(14)	(12)	0.61	20.0	.55	0.26 [−0.62; 1.13]
5α-Dihydroprogesterone:	573.7 ± 669.7	309.4 ± 293.7	−1.37	20.1	.19	−0.53 [−1.34; 0.28]
(5α-DHP)	(15)	(12)	−1.68	21.0	.11	−0.69 [−1.58; 0.19]
Allopregnanolone:	18.2 ± 10.6	15.1 ± 9.7	−0.78	24.5	.44	−0.30 [−1.10; 0.50]
(Allo)	(15)	(12)	−0.98	21.0	.34	−0.41 [−1.27; 0.46]
Pregnanolone:	5.1 ± 4.1	17.0 ± 23.6	1.72	11.5	.11	0.67 [−0.15; 1.49]
(Pregnan)	(15)	(12)	1.71	21.0	.10	0.71 [−0.18; 1.59]
Allo + Pregnan	23.3 ± 10.6	32.1 ± 23.7	1.20	14.5	.25	0.46 [−0.34; 1.27]
	(15)	(12)	1.00	21.0	.33	0.41 [−0.46; 1.28]
Dehydroepiandrosterone:	839.4 ± 889.0	618.9 ± 479.3	−0.87	25.6	.39	−0.32 [−1.08; 0.44]
(DHEA)	(17)	(13)	−1.28	24.0	.21	−0.50 [−1.32; 0.32]
DHEA-Sulfate:	2121 ± 1572	2059 ± 2087	−0.09	19.7	.93	−0.03 [−0.82; 0.75]
(DHEAS)	(16)	(12)	−0.16	22.0	.87	−0.07 [−0.91; 0.78]
Plasma
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)	26.6 ± 17.8	21.5 ± 10.7	−0.92	24.7	.36	−0.36 [−1.17; 0.45]
	(16)	(11)
Ratios Indicating Possible Enzyme Blocks in the Allo and Pregnan Synthesis Pathways
5α-DHP/PROG	64.1 ± 60.4	25.8 ± 24.2	−2.09	16.3	.05t	−0.86 [−1.75; 0.03]
	(13)	(11)	−2.14	18.0	<.05*	−0.94 [−1.91; 0.03]
Allo/5α-DHP	0.11 ± 0.21	0.12 ± 0.17	0.18	23.9	0.86	0.07 [−0.74; 0.18]
	(14)	(12)	0.48	20.0	0.64	0.20 [−0.68; 1.08]
Ratios Integrating Possible Synthesis Blocks Across Neurosteroidogenesis
(Allo + Pregnan)/5α-DHP	0.13 ± 0.25	0.36 ± 0.58	1.30	14.4	.21	0.51 [−0.31; 1.34]
	(14)	(12)	1.55	20.0	.14	0.65 [−0.25; 1.55]
PROG/ACTH	0.75 ± 0.83	0.93 ± 0.49	0.65	19.9	.52	0.27 [−0.61; 1.15]
	(13)	(10)
(Allo + Pregnan)/ACTH	1.27 ± 1.11	1.76 ± 1.84	0.75	13.6	.47	0.31 [−0.55; 1.17]
	(14)	(10)
Ratios Reflecting
Inhibitory to Excitatory Neurotransmission Balance
(Allo + Pregnan)/DHEA	0.047 ± 0.03	0.116 ± 0.15	1.56	11.9	.14	0.61 [−0.21; 1.42]
	(15)	(12)	1.85	21.0	.08	0.76 [−0.12; 1.65]
(Allop + Pregnan)/DHEAS	0.016 ± 0.01	0.035 ± 0.05	1.28	12.5	.22	0.50 [−0.31; 1.31]
	(15)	(12)	1.38	21.0	.18	0.57 [−0.31; 1.44]

Note:

^aThe first line of results for each biomarker is for the unadjusted t-test (using Welch’s correction for unequal variances); the second line reports the adjusted statistics controlling for plasma ACTH levels. t = 0.05 ≤ p < 0.10;

^*= p < 0.05.