PTSD and Autoimmune Diseases: How PTSD Might Cause or Change Risk and What Might Help
Official title: PTSD and Autoimmune Disease: Towards Causal Effects, Risk Factors, and Mitigators
Funded at Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco · NIH-11538983 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether PTSD in Veterans affects the risk of autoimmune diseases and whether there are factors that influence that risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2027 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2CX002627-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11538983 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans with PTSD or a history of PTSD who may be at risk for autoimmune conditions.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without PTSD or autoimmune-related concerns may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
The grant aims to understand if PTSD in Veterans is linked to a higher chance of developing autoimmune conditions and whether certain factors or treatments could modify that risk. It uses causal analysis methods to account for time-varying factors in observational data, striving for clearer links between PTSD and autoimmune disease. The work considers all autoimmune diseases, acknowledges diversity issues, and explores potential health disparities. The study is grounded in data from Veterans Affairs to reflect real-world patient experiences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help clinicians identify Veterans at higher risk for autoimmune diseases and guide strategies to reduce risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show associations between PTSD and some autoimmune diseases, but causal links and broad autoimmune scope remain uncertain.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nishimi, Kristen Marie — Veterans Affairs Med Ctr San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Nishimi, Kristen Marie
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.