The Effect of Deployment to a Combat Zone on Testosterone Levels and the Association with the Development of Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: A Longitudinal Prospective Dutch Military Cohort Study

918 Dutch males participated in a study to understand the relationship between testosterone, cortisol, and the development of PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder) symptoms. Participants completed one set of predeployment assessments and four postdeployment assessments. After deployment, no differences existed in testosterone levels between males with high and low levels of PTSD symptoms. However, predeployment testosterone level predicted later onset of PTSD symptoms.