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Fortney JC, Kaysen DL, Engel CC, Cerimele JM, Nolan JP, Chase E, Blanchard BE, Hauge S, Bechtel J, Moore DL, Taylor A, Acierno R, Nagel N, Sripada RK, Painter JT, DeBeer BB, Bluett E, Teo AR, Morland LA, Heagerty PJ. Sequenced Treatment Effectiveness for Posttraumatic Stress (STEPS) Trial: A protocol for a pragmatic comparative effectiveness trial with baseline results. Contemp Clin Trials 2024; 144:107606. [PMID: 38866094 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2024.107606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There have only been two efficacy trials reporting a head-to-head comparison of medications and psychotherapy for PTSD, and neither was conducted in primary care. Therefore, this protocol paper describes a pragmatic trial that compares outcomes of primary care patients randomized to initially receive a brief trauma-focused psychotherapy or a choice of three antidepressants. In addition, because there are few trials examining the effectiveness of subsequent treatments for patients not responding to the initial treatment, this pragmatic trial also compares the outcomes of those switching or augmenting treatments. METHOD Patients screening positive for PTSD (n = 700) were recruited from the primary care clinics of 7 Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and 8 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers and randomized in the ratio 1:1:2 to one of three treatment sequences: 1) selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) followed by augmentation with Written Exposure Therapy (WET), 2) SSRI followed by a switch to serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), or 3) WET followed by a switch to SSRI. Participants complete surveys at baseline, 4 months, and 8 months. The primary outcome is PTSD symptom severity as measured by the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5). RESULTS Average PCL-5 scores (M = 52.8, SD = 11.1) indicated considerable severity. The most common bothersome traumatic event for VA enrollees was combat (47.8%), and for FQHC enrollees was other (28.2%), followed by sexual assault (23.4%), and child abuse (19.8%). Only 22.4% were taking an antidepressant at baseline. CONCLUSION Results will help healthcare systems and clinicians make decisions about which treatments to offer to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Fortney
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; VA Health Systems Research, Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, VA Puget Sound, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Debra L Kaysen
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Public Mental Health & Population Sciences, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Charles C Engel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; VA Health Systems Research, Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, VA Puget Sound, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joseph M Cerimele
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; VA Health Systems Research, Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, VA Puget Sound, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Erin Chase
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brittany E Blanchard
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephanie Hauge
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jared Bechtel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Danna L Moore
- School of Economic Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Ashley Taylor
- Primary Care Behavioral Health, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
| | - Ron Acierno
- Ralph H. Johnson VA Healthcare System, USA; Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nancy Nagel
- Primary Care Mental Health Integration, Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Rebecca K Sripada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; VA Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jacob T Painter
- Health Systems Research Center for Mental Health and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, USA; College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Bryann B DeBeer
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA; VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness, Research, Education, and Clinical Center for Suicide Prevention, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Ellen Bluett
- University of Montana, Family Medicine Residency
| | - Alan R Teo
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, Health Systems Research, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Leslie A Morland
- Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Patrick J Heagerty
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Levis M, Levy J, Dimambro M, Dufort V, Ludmer DJ, Goldberg M, Shiner B. Using natural language processing to evaluate temporal patterns in suicide risk variation among high-risk Veterans. Psychiatry Res 2024; 339:116097. [PMID: 39083961 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Measuring suicide risk fluctuation remains difficult, especially for high-suicide risk patients. Our study addressed this issue by leveraging Dynamic Topic Modeling, a natural language processing method that evaluates topic changes over time, to analyze high-suicide risk Veterans Affairs patients' unstructured electronic health records. Our sample included all high-risk patients that died (cases) or did not (controls) by suicide in 2017 and 2018. Cases and controls shared the same risk, location, and treatment intervals and received nine months of mental health care during the year before the relevant end date. Each case was matched with five controls. We analyzed case records from diagnosis until death and control records from diagnosis until matched case's death date. Our final sample included 218 cases and 943 controls. We analyzed the corpus using a Python-based Dynamic Topic Modeling algorithm. We identified five distinct topics, "Medication," "Intervention," "Treatment Goals," "Suicide," and "Treatment Focus." We observed divergent change patterns over time, with pathology-focused care increasing for cases and supportive care increasing for controls. The case topics tended to fluctuate more than the control topics, suggesting the importance of monitoring lability. Our study provides a method for monitoring risk fluctuation and strengthens the groundwork for time-sensitive risk measurement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell Levis
- White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT, USA; Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.
| | - Joshua Levy
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Monica Dimambro
- White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT, USA
| | - Vincent Dufort
- White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT, USA
| | - Dana J Ludmer
- National Institute for the Psychotherapies, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Brian Shiner
- White River Junction VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT, USA; Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA; National Center for PTSD Executive Division, White River Junction, VT, USA
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Bonomi R, Hillmer AT, Woodcock E, Bhatt S, Rusowicz A, Angarita GA, Carson RE, Davis MT, Esterlis I, Nabulsi N, Huang Y, Krystal JH, Pietrzak RH, Cosgrove KP. Microglia-mediated neuroimmune suppression in PTSD is associated with anhedonia. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2406005121. [PMID: 39172786 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2406005121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Dynamic brain immune function in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder is rarely studied, despite evidence of peripheral immune dysfunction. Positron emission tomography brain imaging using the radiotracer [11C]PBR28 was used to measure the 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO), a microglial marker, at baseline and 3 h after administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a potent immune activator. Data were acquired in 15 individuals with PTSD and 15 age-matched controls. The PTSD group exhibited a significantly lower magnitude LPS-induced increase in TSPO availability in an a priori prefrontal-limbic circuit compared to controls. Greater anhedonic symptoms in the PTSD group were associated with a more suppressed neuroimmune response. In addition, while a reduced granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor response to LPS was observed in the PTSD group, other measured cytokine responses and self-reported sickness symptoms did not differ between groups; these findings highlight group differences in central-peripheral immune system relationships. The results of this study provide evidence of a suppressed microglia-mediated neuroimmune response to a direct immune system insult in individuals with PTSD that is associated with the severity of symptoms. They also provide further support to an emerging literature challenging traditional concepts of microglial and immune function in psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Bonomi
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Ansel T Hillmer
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Yale Positron Emission Tomography Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519
| | - Eric Woodcock
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | - Shivani Bhatt
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
| | | | | | - Richard E Carson
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Yale Positron Emission Tomography Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519
| | - Margaret T Davis
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Clinical Neurosciences Division, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516
| | - Irina Esterlis
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Clinical Neurosciences Division, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516
| | - Nabeel Nabulsi
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Yale Positron Emission Tomography Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519
| | - Yiyun Huang
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Yale Positron Emission Tomography Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519
| | - John H Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Clinical Neurosciences Division, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516
| | - Robert H Pietrzak
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Clinical Neurosciences Division, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516
| | - Kelly P Cosgrove
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Clinical Neurosciences Division, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516
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Swanberg KM, Prinsen H, Averill CL, Campos L, Kurada AV, Krystal JH, Petrakis IL, Averill LA, Rothman DL, Abdallah CG, Juchem C. Medial prefrontal cortex neurotransmitter abnormalities in posttraumatic stress disorder with and without comorbidity to major depression. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2024:e5220. [PMID: 39054694 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.5220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic psychiatric condition that follows exposure to a traumatic stressor. Though previous in vivo proton (1H) MRS) research conducted at 4 T or lower has identified alterations in glutamate metabolism associated with PTSD predisposition and/or progression, no prior investigations have been conducted at higher field strength. In addition, earlier studies have not extensively addressed the impact of psychiatric comorbidities such as major depressive disorder (MDD) on PTSD-associated 1H-MRS-visible brain metabolite abnormalities. Here we employ 7 T 1H MRS to examine concentrations of glutamate, glutamine, GABA, and glutathione in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of PTSD patients with MDD (PTSD+MDD+; N = 6) or without MDD (PTSD+MDD-; N = 5), as well as trauma-unmatched controls without PTSD but with MDD (PTSD-MDD+; N = 9) or without MDD (PTSD-MDD-; N = 18). Participants with PTSD demonstrated decreased ratios of GABA to glutamine relative to healthy PTSD-MDD- controls but no single-metabolite abnormalities. When comorbid MDD was considered, however, MDD but not PTSD diagnosis was significantly associated with increased mPFC glutamine concentration and decreased glutamate:glutamine ratio. In addition, all participants with PTSD and/or MDD collectively demonstrated decreased glutathione relative to healthy PTSD-MDD- controls. Despite limited findings in single metabolites, patterns of abnormality in prefrontal metabolite concentrations among individuals with PTSD and/or MDD enabled supervised classification to separate them from healthy controls with 80+% sensitivity and specificity, with glutathione, glutamine, and myoinositol consistently among the most informative metabolites for this classification. Our findings indicate that MDD can be an important factor in mPFC glutamate metabolism abnormalities observed using 1H MRS in cohorts with PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelley M Swanberg
- Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science, New York, NY, USA
- Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Hetty Prinsen
- Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Christopher L Averill
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- US Department of Veterans Affairs Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Leonardo Campos
- Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science, New York, NY, USA
| | - Abhinav V Kurada
- Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science, New York, NY, USA
| | - John H Krystal
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ismene L Petrakis
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lynnette A Averill
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- US Department of Veterans Affairs Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Douglas L Rothman
- Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Chadi G Abdallah
- Clinical Neuroscience Division, Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- US Department of Veterans Affairs Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Christoph Juchem
- Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science, New York, NY, USA
- Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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5
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Kong CH, Lee JW, Jeon M, Kang WC, Kim MS, Park K, Bae HJ, Park SJ, Jung SY, Kim SN, Kleinfelter B, Kim JW, Ryu JH. D-Pinitol mitigates post-traumatic stress disorder-like behaviors induced by single prolonged stress in mice through mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2024; 132:110990. [PMID: 38467326 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2024.110990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness that can occur in individuals who have experienced trauma. Current treatments for PTSD, typically serotonin reuptake inhibitors, have limited effectiveness for patients and often cause serious adverse effects. Therefore, a novel class of treatment with better pharmacological profile is necessary. D-Pinitol has been reported to be effective for depression and anxiety disorders, but there are no reports associated with PTSD. In the present study, we investigated the effects of D-pinitol in a mouse model of PTSD induced by a single prolonged stress (SPS) protocol. We examined the therapeutic effects of D-pinitol on emotional and cognitive impairments in the SPS mouse model. We also investigated the effects of D-pinitol on fear memory formation. Mineralocorticoid receptor transactivation assay, Western blot, and quantitative PCR were employed to investigate how D-pinitol exerts its pharmacological activities. D-Pinitol ameliorated PTSD-like behaviors in a SPS mouse model. D-Pinitol also normalized the increased mRNA expression levels and protein levels of the mineralocorticoid receptor in the amygdala. A mineralocorticoid receptor agonist reversed the effects of D-pinitol on fear extinction and recall, and the antagonistic property of D-pinitol against the mineralocorticoid receptor was confirmed in vitro. Our findings suggest that D-pinitol could serve as a potential therapeutic agent for PTSD due to its antagonistic effect on the mineralocorticoid receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Hyeon Kong
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Woo Lee
- Natural Products Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung-si 25451, Republic of Korea
| | - Mijin Jeon
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Chang Kang
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Seo Kim
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Keontae Park
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Jung Bae
- Agriculture and Life Science Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Jin Park
- School of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Seo Yun Jung
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Su-Nam Kim
- Natural Products Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Gangneung-si 25451, Republic of Korea
| | - Benjamin Kleinfelter
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240, United States of America
| | - Ji-Woon Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee Univeristy, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jong Hoon Ryu
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea; Department of Oriental Pharmaceutical Science, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
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Wehrli JM, Xia Y, Abivardi A, Kleim B, Bach DR. The impact of doxycycline on human contextual fear memory. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2024; 241:1065-1077. [PMID: 38334789 PMCID: PMC11031495 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-024-06540-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE Previous work identified an attenuating effect of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor doxycycline on fear memory consolidation. This may present a new mechanistic approach for the prevention of trauma-related disorders. However, so far, this has only been unambiguously demonstrated in a cued delay fear conditioning paradigm, in which a simple geometric cue predicted a temporally overlapping aversive outcome. This form of learning is mainly amygdala dependent. Psychological trauma often involves the encoding of contextual cues, which putatively necessitates partly different neural circuits including the hippocampus. The role of MMP signalling in the underlying neural pathways in humans is unknown. METHODS Here, we investigated the effect of doxycycline on configural fear conditioning in a double-blind placebo-controlled randomised trial with 100 (50 females) healthy human participants. RESULTS Our results show that participants successfully learned and retained, after 1 week, the context-shock association in both groups. We find no group difference in fear memory retention in either of our pre-registered outcome measures, startle eye-blink responses and pupil dilation. Contrary to expectations, we identified elevated fear-potentiated startle in the doxycycline group early in the recall test, compared to the placebo group. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that doxycycline does not substantially attenuate contextual fear memory. This might limit its potential for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelena M Wehrli
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Yanfang Xia
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Aslan Abivardi
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, FMRIB Building, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Birgit Kleim
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dominik R Bach
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, University College London, Russell Square House, 10-12 Russell Square, London, WC1B 5EH, UK.
- Hertz Chair for Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience, Transdisciplinary Research Area Life & Health , University of Bonn, Am Probsthof 49, 53121, Bonn, Germany.
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Kobelt M, Waldhauser GT, Rupietta A, Heinen R, Rau EMB, Kessler H, Axmacher N. The memory trace of an intrusive trauma-analog episode. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1657-1669.e5. [PMID: 38537637 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Intrusive memories are a core symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder. Compared with memories of everyday events, they are characterized by several seemingly contradictory features: intrusive memories contain distinct sensory and emotional details of the traumatic event and can be triggered by various perceptually similar cues, but they are poorly integrated into conceptual memory. Here, we conduct exploratory whole-brain analyses to investigate the neural representations of trauma-analog experiences and how they are reactivated during memory intrusions. We show that trauma-analog movies induce excessive processing and generalized representations in sensory areas but decreased blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) responses and highly distinct representations in conceptual/semantic areas. Intrusive memories activate generalized representations in sensory areas and reactivate memory traces specific to trauma-analog events in the anterior cingulate cortex. These findings provide the first evidence of how traumatic events could distort memory representations in the human brain, which may form the basis for future confirmatory research on the neural representations of traumatic experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kobelt
- Department of Neuropsychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44801, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
| | - G T Waldhauser
- Department of Neuropsychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44801, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
| | - A Rupietta
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44787, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - R Heinen
- Department of Neuropsychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44801, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - E M B Rau
- Department of Neuropsychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44801, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - H Kessler
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Campus Fulda, Universität Marburg, Marburg 35032, Hessen, Germany; Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44791, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - N Axmacher
- Department of Neuropsychology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44801, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
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Parmenter ME, Lederman S, Weathers FW, Davis LL, Vaughn B, Engels J, Sullivan GM. A phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled, trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bedtime sublingual cyclobenzaprine (TNX-102 SL) in military-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychiatry Res 2024; 334:115764. [PMID: 38350291 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.115764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Sleep disturbances in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are a potential target for improving PTSD severity with pharmacotherapy. TNX-102 SL is a bedtime sublingual formulation of cyclobenzaprine with potent binding and antagonist activity at 5-HT2A, α1-adrenergic, H1 histaminergic, and M1 muscarinic receptors, which play roles in the pharmacological management of sleep disturbances. This Phase 3 trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of TNX-102 SL in patients with military-related PTSD. Early and sustained improvements in sleep were associated with TNX-102 SL treatment by PROMIS Sleep Disturbance scale and Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) "sleep disturbance" item, establishing a sleep quality benefit. Primary analysis comparing change from baseline in CAPS-5 total severity between TNX-102 SL and placebo at week 12 was not significant; however, week 4 was associated with an improvement. Secondary analyses showed TNX-102 SL treatment was associated with benefits on the Clinician Global Impression of Improvement at week 4 and the Patient Global Impression of Change at week 12. Time since trauma exposure was a discriminator of CAPS-5 treatment response in the subgroup ≤ 9 years since the index event. This study provides preliminary evidence that TNX-102 SL is well-tolerated and may promote recovery from PTSD by addressing sleep-related symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Parmenter
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base Program, Charlestown, MA, United States
| | - Seth Lederman
- Tonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Chatham, NJ, United States
| | - Frank W Weathers
- National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, and Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lori L Davis
- Research Service, Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Alabama Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences, Tuscaloosa, AL
| | | | - Jean Engels
- Tonix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Chatham, NJ, United States
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Straud CL, Roache JD, Ginsburg BC, Baig RM, King VL, Barron S, Blount TH, Young-McCaughan S, Peterson AL. Enhancing massed prolonged exposure with cannabidiol to improve posttraumatic stress disorder: Design and methodology of a pilot randomized clinical trial. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2024; 38:101270. [PMID: 38404650 PMCID: PMC10884801 DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2024.101270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The impact of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is substantial and often results in pervasive functional impairments. Although evidence-based treatments for PTSD are established, there remains room for improvement as many individuals continue to meet diagnostic criteria even after successful treatment completion. Cannabidiol (CBD) has attracted considerable attention based on its potential to treat a myriad of health conditions. CBD may decrease anxiety and facilitate extinction learning processes, two critical targets of trauma-focused psychotherapies. We present the design and methods for a pilot randomized clinical trial to examine the combination of CBD and prolonged exposure for PTSD. Methods Participants (n = 24) will be randomized to CBD or placebo for 18 days delivered in combination with ten daily prolonged exposure sessions over two weeks. The study medication will be Epidiolex® (250 mg BID). The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 will be the primary outcome to assess PTSD severity at baseline, during treatment, and at 1-month follow-up. Blood, saliva, and heart rate will be collected during treatment to assess intervention effects on biological outcomes related to PTSD and the endocannabinoid system. Results Consistent with the purpose of a pilot, our goals are to evaluate the feasibility of study procedures, safety of the intervention, and the preliminary effect of CBD to inform a larger trial. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be used to address study aims. Conclusion Findings will inform decision making on combining CBD with behavioral interventions for PTSD to enhance outcomes and mitigate the morbidity of this debilitating condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey L. Straud
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - John D. Roache
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Brett C. Ginsburg
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Rais M. Baig
- Polytrauma and Rehabilitation Clinic, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Van L. King
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Sarah Barron
- PTSD Clinic, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Tabatha H. Blount
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Stacey Young-McCaughan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Alan L. Peterson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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10
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Armstrong SB, Xin Y, Sepeda ND, Polanco M, Averill LA, Davis AK. Prospective associations of psychedelic treatment for co-occurring alcohol misuse and posttraumatic stress symptoms among United States Special Operations Forces Veterans. MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY 2024; 36:184-191. [PMID: 38377244 PMCID: PMC10880491 DOI: 10.1080/08995605.2022.2156200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluated prospective associations of ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT treatment for risky alcohol use and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among United States (US) Special Operations Forces Veterans (SOFV). Data were collected during standard clinical operations at pre-treatment and 1-month (1 m), 3-months (3 m), and 6-months (6 m) post-treatment in an ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT treatment program in Mexico. Of the 86 SOFV that completed treatment, 45 met criteria for risky alcohol use at pre-treatment (mean age = 44; male = 100%; White = 91%). There was a significant reduction in alcohol use from pre-treatment (M = 7.2, SD = 2.3) to 1 m (M = 3.6; SD = 3.5) post-treatment, which remained reduced through 6 m (M = 4.0; SD = 2.9; p < .001, partial eta squared = .617). At 1 m, 24% were abstinent, 33% were non-risky drinking, and 42% were risky drinkers. At 6 m, 16% were abstinent, 31% were non-risky drinking, and 53% were risky drinkers. There were no differences between responders (abstinent/non-risky drinkers) and non-responders (risky drinkers) in demographics/clinical characteristics. However, there were significant and very large differences between responders and non-responders in PTSD symptom (p < .01, d = -3.26) and cognitive functioning change (p < .01, d = -0.99). Given these findings, future clinical trials should determine whether psychedelic-assisted therapy holds promise for individuals with complex trauma and alcohol misuse who have not been successfully treated with traditional interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacey B. Armstrong
- Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Yitong Xin
- Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Nathan D. Sepeda
- Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Lynnette A. Averill
- US Department of Veterans Affairs, Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Administration Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alan K. Davis
- Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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11
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Modlin NL, Creed M, Sarang M, Maggio C, Rucker JJ, Williamson V. Trauma-Informed Care in Psychedelic Therapy Research: A Qualitative Literature Review of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Interventions in PTSD and Psychedelic Therapy Across Conditions. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2024; 20:109-135. [PMID: 38268571 PMCID: PMC10807282 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s432537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with significant patient burden. While pharmacotherapies and evidence-based psychotherapy interventions (EBPI) are effective, studies consistently highlight inadequate outcomes and high treatment dropout. Psychedelic therapy (PT) has shown preliminary promise across difficult-to-treat conditions, including MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, however trials of classical psychedelics in PTSD are lacking. Understanding patients' experiences of EBPI could help promote safety in PT. Aim To systematically review qualitative research on patients' subjective experience of EBPI for PTSD, and of PT, and examine areas of overlap and divergence between them. Methods Systematic literature searches for studies published between 2010 and 2023 were conducted on OVID, PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycInfo. Included were original studies in English that presented qualitative data of patient experiences of EBPI in PTSD, or PT for any indication. Extracted data from included studies were analysed using thematic synthesis. Syntheses were completed separately for EBPI and PT, before similarities and differences between the therapies were identified. Results 40 research articles were included for review: 26 studies on EBPI for PTSD, and 14 studies on PT. EBPI studied were CBT, EMDR, CPT and PE. Psychedelic compounds studied were psilocybin, ibogaine, LSD, MDMA and ketamine, for treatment of substance use disorders, anxiety relating to physical illness, depression, and PTSD. Core themes from patient experiences of EBPI: 1) patient burden in PTSD treatment; 2) readiness; 3) key mechanisms of change; 4) psychological safety and trust. Themes identified in the review of PT: 1) indirect trauma processing; 2) reorganisation of self-narratives via processes of relatedness and identification; 3) key treatment characteristics. Conclusion This study suggests overlap between patients' experience of EBPI and PT in terms of key mechanisms of change, the importance of psychological safety and readiness to engage in treatment. Trauma-informed care paradigms and practices may improve safety and acceptability of PT research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadav Liam Modlin
- The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Michael Creed
- The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AZ, UK
| | - Maria Sarang
- The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Carolina Maggio
- The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - James J Rucker
- The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AZ, UK
| | - Victoria Williamson
- King’s Centre for Military Health Research, King’s College London, London, SE5 9RJ, UK
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Anna Watts Building, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX2 6 GG, UK
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12
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Yount G, Taddeo S, Stumbrys T, Kriegsman M, Wahbeh H. Trends in waking salivary alpha-amylase levels following healing lucid dreams. Front Psychol 2024; 15:1347499. [PMID: 38298517 PMCID: PMC10828844 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1347499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Salivary alpha-amylase (sAA) is considered a marker of autonomic nervous system activity in stress research, and atypical waking sAA responses have been reported for traumatized individuals. Lucid dreams, characterized by a dreamer's awareness of their dream state while remaining asleep, have shown promising preliminary evidence of their potential to enhance mental health. This study's objective was to evaluate sAA in relation to healing lucid dreams. Methods Participants experiencing PTSD symptoms attended a six-day workshop delivered via live video designed to teach techniques for transforming trauma through dreamwork and dream lucidity. Participants (n = 20) collected saliva samples each morning, immediately upon awakening (Time 1) and 30 min afterward (Time 2). sAA levels were determined by enzymatic assay, and the waking sAA slope was calculated as the difference of Time 2 minus Time 1. Participants completed dream reports each morning, with a dream classified as a 'healing lucid dream' when they reported attaining lucidity and remembered their intention to manifest a healing experience within the dreamscape. Results Of eight participants experiencing healing lucid dreams, four were able to provide usable saliva samples. Statistical tests on these four participants were not significant because of low power. However, nonsignificant positive associations were observed between experiencing more healing lucid dreams and increased waking sAA slope. Conclusion The results did not reveal a consistent effect of healing lucid dreams on waking sAA slope. Identifying meaningful patterns in this relationship will require larger samples and more stringent control over saliva collection procedures in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garret Yount
- Institute of Noetic Sciences, Novato, CA, United States
| | - Sitara Taddeo
- Institute of Noetic Sciences, Novato, CA, United States
| | - Tadas Stumbrys
- Institute of Psychology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | | | - Helané Wahbeh
- Institute of Noetic Sciences, Novato, CA, United States
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13
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Borgogna NC, Owen T, Vaughn J, Johnson DAL, Aita SL, Hill BD. So how special is special K? A systematic review and meta-analysis of ketamine for PTSD RCTs. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2299124. [PMID: 38224070 PMCID: PMC10791091 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2299124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: PTSD is a significant mental health problem worldwide. Current evidence-based interventions suffer various limitations. Ketamine is a novel agent that is hoped to be incrementally better than extant interventions.Objective: Several randomized control trials (RCTs) of ketamine interventions for PTSD have now been published. We sought to systematically review and meta-analyse results from these trials to evaluate preliminary evidence for ketamine's incremental benefit above-and-beyond control interventions in PTSD treatment.Results: Omnibus findings from 52 effect sizes extracted across six studies (n = 221) yielded a small advantage for ketamine over control conditions at reducing PTSD symptoms (g = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.03, 0.51). However, bias-correction estimates attenuated this effect (adjusted g = 0.20, 95%, CI = -0.08, 0.48). Bias estimates indicated smaller studies reported larger effect sizes favouring ketamine. The only consistent timepoint assessed across RCTs was 24-hours post-initial infusion. Effects at 24-hours post-initial infusion suggest ketamine has a small relative advantage over controls (g = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.06, 0.64). Post-hoc analyses at 24-hours post-initial infusion indicated that ketamine was significantly better than passive controls (g = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.03, 0.85), but not active controls (g = 0.24, 95% CI = -0.30, 0.78). Comparisons one-week into intervention suggested no meaningful group differences (g = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.00, 0.48). No significant differences were evident for RCTs that examined effects two-weeks post initial infusion (g = 0.17, 95% CI = -0.10, 0.44).Conclusions: Altogether, ketamine-for-PTSD RCTs reveal a nominal initial therapeutic advantage relative to controls. However, bias and heterogeneity appear problematic. While rapid acting effects were observed, all control agents (including saline) also evidenced rapid acting effects. We argue blind penetration to be a serious concern, and that placebo is the likely mechanism behind reported therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tyler Owen
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Jacob Vaughn
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - David A. L. Johnson
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | | | - Benjamin D. Hill
- Department of Psychology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
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14
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Zeifman RJ, Kettner H, Ross S, Weiss B, Mithoefer MC, Mithoefer AT, Wagner AC. Preliminary evidence for the importance of therapeutic alliance in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for posttraumatic stress disorder. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2024; 15:2297536. [PMID: 38174611 PMCID: PMC10769553 DOI: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2297536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: MDMA-assisted psychotherapy (MDMA-AP) is a combined psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic intervention that shows promise in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although therapeutic alliance has been established as a key predictor across psychotherapies and is emphasised within MDMA-AP treatment manuals, research has not yet examined the relationship between therapeutic alliance and MDMA-AP treatment outcomes.Objective: Examine whether therapeutic alliance predicts changes in PTSD symptoms following MDMA-AP.Method: Twenty-three individuals with chronic PTSD participated in a MDMA-AP clinical trial that included a randomised (MDMA vs. placebo) and open-label phase. The present analyses focused on participants who were administered MDMA over the course of the randomised and open-label phases (n = 22). Therapeutic alliance was assessed using the Working Alliance Inventory at sessions baseline (pre-session 3) and sessions 4 and 9. PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale and the Impact of Events Scale-Revised.Results: Controlling for baseline clinician-assessed PTSD severity, therapeutic alliance at sessions 4 and 9 (but not baseline) significantly predicted post-MDMA-AP clinician-assessed PTSD severity. Controlling for baseline self-reported PTSD severity, therapeutic alliance at baseline (although this did not survive correction for multiple comparisons) and sessions 4 and 9 predicted post-MDMA-AP self-reported PTSD severity.Conclusions: The present results provide the first preliminary evidence for the relationship between the therapeutic alliance and treatment outcomes within MDMA-AP for PTSD. These findings highlight the important role of psychotherapy, and common psychotherapeutic factors, within MDMA-AP. Replication in studies with larger and more diverse clinical samples remain necessary.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00090064.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J. Zeifman
- Department of Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Centre for Psychedelic Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hannes Kettner
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Stephen Ross
- Department of Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Centre for Psychedelic Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brandon Weiss
- Centre for Psychedelic Research, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Anne C. Wagner
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Canada
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15
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Sep MSC, Geuze E, Joëls M. Impaired learning, memory, and extinction in posttraumatic stress disorder: translational meta-analysis of clinical and preclinical studies. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:376. [PMID: 38062029 PMCID: PMC10703817 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02660-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Current evidence-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are efficacious in only part of PTSD patients. Therefore, novel neurobiologically informed approaches are urgently needed. Clinical and translational neuroscience point to altered learning and memory processes as key in (models of) PTSD psychopathology. We extended this notion by clarifying at a meta-level (i) the role of information valence, i.e. neutral versus emotional/fearful, and (ii) comparability, as far as applicable, between clinical and preclinical phenotypes. We hypothesized that cross-species, neutral versus emotional/fearful information processing is, respectively, impaired and enhanced in PTSD. This preregistered meta-analysis involved a literature search on PTSD+Learning/Memory+Behavior, performed in PubMed. First, the effect of information valence was estimated with a random-effects meta-regression. The sources of variation were explored with a random forest-based analysis. The analyses included 92 clinical (N = 6732 humans) and 182 preclinical (N = 6834 animals) studies. A general impairment of learning, memory and extinction processes was observed in PTSD patients, regardless of information valence. Impaired neutral learning/memory and fear extinction were also present in animal models of PTSD. Yet, PTSD models enhanced fear/trauma memory in preclinical studies and PTSD impaired emotional memory in patients. Clinical data on fear/trauma memory was limited. Mnemonic phase and valence explained most variation in rodents but not humans. Impaired neutral learning/memory and fear extinction show stable cross-species PTSD phenotypes. These could be targeted for novel PTSD treatments, using information gained from neurobiological animal studies. We argue that apparent cross-species discrepancies in emotional/fearful memory deserve further in-depth study; until then, animal models targeting this phenotype should be applied with utmost care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milou S C Sep
- Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- GGZ inGeest Mental Health Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Mood, Anxiety, Psychosis, Sleep & Stress Program, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Public Health, Mental Health Program, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Center location Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Elbert Geuze
- Brain Research and Innovation Centre, Ministry of Defence, Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marian Joëls
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Gully BJ, Eaton E, Capone C, Haass-Koffler CL. Treating posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder comorbidity: Current pharmacological therapies and the future of MDMA-integrated psychotherapy. J Psychopharmacol 2023; 37:1182-1189. [PMID: 38009477 DOI: 10.1177/02698811231200880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) frequently co-occur in patients who have experienced trauma. This comorbidity leads to a vicious cycle where PTSD symptoms beget heavy drinking and vice versa. There are no FDA-approved medications to treat PTSD-AUD; therefore, individuals suffering from this comorbidity are treated with medication approved to treat the disorders separately or with off-label pharmacological interventions. However, these medications are limited in their efficacy for treating PTSD-AUD comorbidity. Emerging research on the nonclassical psychedelic drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) suggests that it may be an effective drug used in conjunction with psychotherapy. The following reviews the current research for clinical pharmacotherapies, as well as MDMA-integrative psychotherapy as they pertain to PTSD and AUD in isolation and co-occurrence. Future directions for the role of psychedelic-integrative therapy for the treatment of this comorbidity are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Gully
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Erica Eaton
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Christy Capone
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Carolina L Haass-Koffler
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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Titone MK, Hunt C, Bismark A, Nokes B, Lee E, Ramanathan D, Park J, Colvonen P. The effect of obstructive sleep apnea severity on PTSD symptoms during the course of esketamine treatment: a retrospective clinical study. J Clin Sleep Med 2023; 19:2043-2051. [PMID: 37539643 PMCID: PMC10692930 DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.10746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Intranasal administration of esketamine is Food and Drug Administration-approved for treatment-resistant depression. In a recent retrospective case series, we show that it has promise in reducing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent among veterans with PTSD and has been shown to interfere with other PTSD treatments. In the current study, we examined whether OSA impacts esketamine's effectiveness in reducing symptoms of PTSD or depression. METHODS Participants were 60 veterans with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder and PTSD who received intranasal esketamine treatment at the San Diego Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. We used growth-curve modeling to examine changes in depression and PTSD symptoms following esketamine treatments and, in the subset of individuals screened for OSA (n = 24, all prescribed positive airway pressure therapy), examined the impacts of OSA severity on these trajectories. RESULTS We first showed that both PTSD and depressive symptoms significantly decreased over the course of esketamine treatment. In the subset of veterans screened for OSA, individuals with lower OSA severity reported the greatest reduction in PTSD symptoms, while veterans with the most severe OSA reported the least reduction in PTSD symptoms. Depression response was not affected by severity of OSA in this analysis. CONCLUSIONS Veterans with PTSD and depression tend to benefit from esketamine treatment, but OSA may interfere with esketamine effectiveness. Comorbid OSA should be assessed for and treated to maximize esketamine's benefits in PTSD. CITATION Titone MK, Hunt C, Bismark A, et al. The effect of obstructive sleep apnea severity on PTSD symptoms during the course of esketamine treatment: a retrospective clinical study. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(12):2043-2051.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison K. Titone
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California
| | | | | | - Brandon Nokes
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
| | - Ellen Lee
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Dhakshin Ramanathan
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California
| | - Jane Park
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
| | - Peter Colvonen
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California
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Duek O, Korem N, Li Y, Kelmendi B, Amen S, Gordon C, Milne M, Krystal JH, Levy I, Harpaz-Rotem I. Long term structural and functional neural changes following a single infusion of Ketamine in PTSD. Neuropsychopharmacology 2023; 48:1648-1658. [PMID: 37270621 PMCID: PMC10517133 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-023-01606-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
NMDA receptor antagonists have a vital role in extinction, learning, and reconsolidation processes. During the reconsolidation window, memories are activated into a labile state and can be reconsolidated in an altered form. This concept might have significant clinical implications in treating PTSD. In this pilot study we tested the potential of a single infusion of ketamine, followed by brief exposure therapy, to enhance post-retrieval extinction of PTSD trauma memories. 27 individuals diagnosed with PTSD were randomly assigned to receive either ketamine (0.5 mg/kg 40 min; N = 14) or midazolam (0.045 mg/kg; N = 13) after retrieval of the traumatic memory. 24 h following infusion, participants received a four-day trauma-focused psychotherapy. Symptoms and brain activity were assessed before treatment, at the end of treatment, and at 30-day follow-up. Amygdala activation to trauma scripts (a major biomarker of fear response) served as the main study outcome. Although PTSD symptoms improved equally in both groups, post-treatment, ketamine recipients showed a lower amygdala (-0.33, sd = 0.13, 95%HDI [-0.56,-0.04]) and hippocampus (-0.3 (sd = 0.19), 95%HDI [-0.65, 0.04]; marginal effect) reactivation to trauma memories, compared to midazolam recipients. Post-retrieval ketamine administration was also associated with decreased connectivity between the amygdala and hippocampus (-0.28, sd = 0.11, 95%HDI [-0.46, -0.11]), with no change in amygdala-vmPFC connectivity. Moreover, reduction in fractional anisotropy in bi-lateral uncinate fasciculus was seen in the Ketamine recipients compared with the midazolam recipients (right: post-treatment: -0.01108, 95% HDI [-0.0184,-0.003]; follow-up: -0.0183, 95% HDI [-0.02719,-0.0107]; left: post-treatment: -0.019, 95% HDI [-0.028,-0.011]; follow-up: -0.017, 95% HDI [-0.026,-0.007]). Taken together it is possible that ketamine may enhance post-retrieval extinction of the original trauma memories in humans. These preliminary findings show promising direction toward the capacity to rewrite human traumatic memories and modulate the fear response for at least 30 days post-extinction. When combined with psychotherapy for PTSD, further investigation of ketamine dose, timing of administration, and frequency of administration, is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Or Duek
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New-Haven, CT, USA.
- The National Center for PTSD, VA CT Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Nachshon Korem
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New-Haven, CT, USA
- The National Center for PTSD, VA CT Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
- Departments of Comparative Medicine and Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New-Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yutong Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New-Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ben Kelmendi
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New-Haven, CT, USA
- The National Center for PTSD, VA CT Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Shelley Amen
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New-Haven, CT, USA
- The National Center for PTSD, VA CT Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Charles Gordon
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New-Haven, CT, USA
- The National Center for PTSD, VA CT Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Madison Milne
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New-Haven, CT, USA
| | - John H Krystal
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New-Haven, CT, USA
- The National Center for PTSD, VA CT Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ifat Levy
- Departments of Comparative Medicine and Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New-Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ilan Harpaz-Rotem
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New-Haven, CT, USA.
- The National Center for PTSD, VA CT Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA.
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
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19
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Davis AK, Xin Y, Sepeda N, Averill LA. Open-label study of consecutive ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT assisted-therapy for trauma-exposed male Special Operations Forces Veterans: prospective data from a clinical program in Mexico. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2023; 49:587-596. [PMID: 37734158 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2023.2220874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Background: Research in psychedelic medicine has focused primarily on civilian populations. Further study is needed to understand whether these treatments are effective for Veteran populations.Objectives: Here, we examine the effectiveness of psychedelic-assisted therapy among trauma-exposed Special Operations Forces Veterans (SOFV) seeking treatment for cognitive and mental health problems in Mexico.Methods: Data were collected from an ibogaine and 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeO-DMT) clinical treatment program for SOFV with a history of trauma exposure. This clinical program collects prospective clinical program evaluation data, such as background characteristics, symptom severity, functioning (e.g., satisfaction with life, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms, sleep disturbance, psychological flexibility, disability in functioning, cognitive functioning, neurobehavioral symptoms, anger, suicidal ideation), and substance persisting/enduring effects through online surveys at four timepoints (baseline/pre-treatment, one-, three-, and six-months after treatment).Results: The majority of the sample (n = 86; Mean Age = 42.88, SD = 7.88) were Caucasian (87.2%), non-Hispanic (89.5%), and males (100%). There were significant and large improvements in self-reported PTSD symptoms (p < .001, d = .414), depression (p < .001, d = .275), anxiety (p < .001, d = .276), insomnia severity (p < .001, d = .351), and post-concussive symptoms (p < .001, d = .389) as well as self-reported satisfaction with life (p < .001, d = .371), psychological flexibility (p < .001, d = .313) and cognitive functioning (p < .001, d = .265) from baseline to one-month follow-up.Conclusions: Data suggest combined ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT assisted therapy has potential to provide rapid and robust changes in mental health functioning with a signal of durable therapeutic effects up to 6-months. Future research in controlled settings is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Kooi Davis
- Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yitong Xin
- Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Nathan Sepeda
- Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
- Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lynnette A Averill
- Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, US Department of Veteran Affairs, Houston, TX, USA
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20
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Shiner B, Park JA, Rozema L, Hoyt JE, Watts BV, Gradus JL. Safety of Glecaprevir/Pibrentasvir for hepatitis C in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder: A post-marketing surveillance study. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2023; 84:268-270. [PMID: 37380536 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2023.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Brian Shiner
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont, United States of America; National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, White River Junction, Vermont, United States of America; Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States of America.
| | - Jenna A Park
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont, United States of America; Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States of America
| | - Luke Rozema
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Jessica E Hoyt
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Bradley V Watts
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont, United States of America; Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, United States of America
| | - Jaimie L Gradus
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, United States of America; Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
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21
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Tsang VWL, Ragazan DC, Kryskow P, Walsh Z, Dames S. A Pilot Study Comparing a Community of Practice Program with and without Concurrent Ketamine-Assisted Therapy. J Psychoactive Drugs 2023:1-10. [PMID: 37655532 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2023.2253798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has increased among healthcare providers, while the effectiveness of conventional treatments remains limited. Ketamine-assisted therapy offers a promising alternative; however, few have integrated ketamine with a group-based therapeutic modality. We report a retrospective, secondary analysis of a 12-week pilot of a Community of Practice (CoP) oriented group therapy program with optional, adjunct ketamine for depression, anxiety, and PTSD in a sample of 57 healthcare providers. All participants moved through the treatment as one group, with 38 electing to also receive three adjunct ketamine sessions in addition to the weekly CoP. Symptoms were assessed at baseline and pilot completion with the PHQ-9 for depression, GAD-7 for anxiety, and PCL-5 for PTSD. We observed significant reductions in the mean change among all participants, suggesting that benefit was derived from the CoP component, with or without ketamine as an adjunct. PHQ-9 scores decreased by 6.79 (95% CI: 5.09-8.49, p < .001), GAD-7 scores decreased by 5.57 (CI: 4.12-7.00, p < .001), and PCL-5 scores decreased by 14.83 (CI: 10.27-19.38, p < .001). Reductions were larger, but statistically nonsignificant, among those receiving ketamine. Further research is required to assess the impact of ketamine as an adjunct in group-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian W L Tsang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Dragos C Ragazan
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Pamela Kryskow
- Health and Human Services, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Zach Walsh
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Shannon Dames
- Health and Human Services, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
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22
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Feder A, Costi S, Rutter SB, Collins AB, Govindarajulu U, Jha MK, Horn SR, Kautz M, Corniquel M, Collins KA, Bevilacqua L, Glasgow AM, Brallier J, Pietrzak RH, Murrough JW, Charney DS. A Randomized Controlled Trial of Repeated Ketamine Administration for Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. FOCUS (AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC PUBLISHING) 2023; 21:296-305. [PMID: 37404970 PMCID: PMC10316213 DOI: 10.1176/appi.focus.23021014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Objective Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic and disabling disorder, for which available pharmacotherapies have limited efficacy. The authors' previous proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial of single-dose intravenous ketamine infusion in individuals with PTSD showed significant and rapid PTSD symptom reduction 24 hours postinfusion. The present study is the first randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy and safety of repeated intravenous ketamine infusions for the treatment of chronic PTSD. Methods Individuals with chronic PTSD (N=30) were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive six infusions of ketamine (0.5 mg/kg) or midazolam (0.045 mg/kg) (psychoactive placebo control) over 2 consecutive weeks. Clinician-rated and self-report assessments were administered 24 hours after the first infusion and at weekly visits. The primary outcome measure was change in PTSD symptom severity, as assessed with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5), from baseline to 2 weeks (after completion of all infusions). Secondary outcome measures included the Impact of Event Scale-Revised, the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and side effect measures. Results The ketamine group showed a significantly greater improvement in CAPS-5 and MADRS total scores than the midazolam group from baseline to week 2. At week 2, the mean CAPS-5 total score was 11.88 points (SE=3.96) lower in the ketamine group than in the midazolam group (d=1.13, 95% CI=0.36, 1.91). Sixty-seven percent of participants in the ketamine group were treatment responders, compared with 20% in the midazolam group. Among ketamine responders, the median time to loss of response was 27.5 days following the 2-week course of infusions. Ketamine infusions were well tolerated overall, without serious adverse events. Conclusions This randomized controlled trial provides the first evidence of efficacy of repeated ketamine infusions in reducing symptom severity in individuals with chronic PTSD. Further studies are warranted to understand ketamine's full potential as a treatment for chronic PTSD.Reprinted from Am J Psychiatry 2021; 178:193-202, with permission from American Psychiatric Association Publishing. Copyright © 2021.
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23
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Levis M, Levy J, Dufort V, Russ CJ, Shiner B. Dynamic suicide topic modelling: Deriving population-specific, psychosocial and time-sensitive suicide risk variables from Electronic Health Record psychotherapy notes. Clin Psychol Psychother 2023; 30:795-810. [PMID: 36797651 PMCID: PMC11172400 DOI: 10.1002/cpp.2842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
In the machine learning subfield of natural language processing, a topic model is a type of unsupervised method that is used to uncover abstract topics within a corpus of text. Dynamic topic modelling (DTM) is used for capturing change in these topics over time. The study deploys DTM on corpus of electronic health record psychotherapy notes. This retrospective study examines whether DTM helps distinguish closely matched patients that did and did not die by suicide. Cohort consists of United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patients diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) between 2004 and 2013. Each case (those who died by suicide during the year following diagnosis) was matched with five controls (those who remained alive) that shared psychotherapists and had similar suicide risk based on VA's suicide prediction algorithm. Cohort was restricted to patients who received psychotherapy for 9+ months after initial PTSD diagnoses (cases = 77; controls = 362). For cases, psychotherapy notes from diagnosis until death were examined. For controls, psychotherapy notes from diagnosis until matched case's death date were examined. A Python-based DTM algorithm was utilized. Derived topics identified population-specific themes, including PTSD, psychotherapy, medication, communication and relationships. Control topics changed significantly more over time than case topics. Topic differences highlighted engagement, expressivity and therapeutic alliance. This study strengthens groundwork for deriving population-specific, psychosocial and time-sensitive suicide risk variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxwell Levis
- White River Junction VA Medical Center, Hartford, Vermont, USA
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Joshua Levy
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Vincent Dufort
- White River Junction VA Medical Center, Hartford, Vermont, USA
| | - Carey J. Russ
- White River Junction VA Medical Center, Hartford, Vermont, USA
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Brian Shiner
- White River Junction VA Medical Center, Hartford, Vermont, USA
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA
- National Center for PTSD Executive Division, Hartford, Vermont, USA
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24
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Davis AK, Levin AW, Nagib PB, Armstrong SB, Lancelotta RL. Study protocol of an open-label proof-of-concept trial examining the safety and clinical efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy for veterans with PTSD. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e068884. [PMID: 37142308 PMCID: PMC10163450 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-068884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Psilocybin-assisted therapy has shown significant promise in treating the cluster of mood and anxiety symptoms that comprise post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but has yet to be tested specifically in this condition. Furthermore, current pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments for PTSD are difficult to tolerate and limited in efficacy, especially in the US Military Veteran (USMV) population. This open-label pilot study will examine the safety and efficacy of two psilocybin administration sessions (15 mg and 25 mg), combined with psychotherapy, among USMVs with severe, treatment resistant PTSD. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We will recruit 15 USMVs with severe, treatment resistant PTSD. Participants will receive one low dose (15 mg) and one moderate/high dose (25 mg) of psilocybin in conjunction with preparatory and post-psilocybin therapy sessions. The primary safety outcome will be the type, severity and frequency of adverse events and suicidal ideation/behaviour, as measured by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. The primary outcome measure for PTSD will be the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale-5. The primary endpoint will be 1 month following the second psilocybin administration session, and the total follow-up time will be 6 months. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION All participants will be required to provide written informed consent. The trial has been authorised by the Ohio State University Institutional Review Board (study number: 2022H0280). Dissemination of results will occur via a peer-reviewed publication and other relevant media. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT05554094.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan K Davis
- Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, The Ohio State University College of Social Work, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Adam W Levin
- Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, The Ohio State University College of Social Work, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Paul B Nagib
- Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, The Ohio State University College of Social Work, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Stacey B Armstrong
- Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, The Ohio State University College of Social Work, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Rafaelle L Lancelotta
- Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education, The Ohio State University College of Social Work, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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25
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Gou L, Li Y, Liu S, Sang H, Lan J, Chen J, Wang L, Li C, Lian B, Zhang X, Sun H, Sun L. (2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine improves PTSD-associated behaviors and structural plasticity via modulating BDNF-mTOR signaling in the nucleus accumbens. J Affect Disord 2023; 335:129-140. [PMID: 37137411 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.04.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness caused by either experiencing or observing a traumatic event that is perceived to pose a serious risk to one's life. (2R,6R)-HNK has an alleviating effect on negative emotions, nevertheless, the mechanism of (2R,6R)-HNK action is unclear. METHODS In this study, the single prolonged stress and electric foot shock (SPS&S) method was used to establish a rat model of PTSD. After determining the validity of the model, (2R,6R)-HNK was administered to the NAc by microinjection using a concentration gradient of 10, 50, and 100 μM, and the effects of the drug in the SPS&S rat model were evaluated. Moreover, our study measured changes in related proteins in the NAc (BDNF, p-mTOR/mTOR, and PSD95) and synaptic ultrastructure. RESULTS In the SPS&S group, the protein expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and PSD95 was reduced and synaptic morphology was damaged in the NAc. In contrast, after the administration of 50 μM (2R,6R)-HNK, SPS&S-treated rats improved their exploration and depression-linked behavior, while protein levels and synaptic ultrastructure were also restored in the NAc. With the administration of 100 μM (2R,6R)-HNK, locomotor behavior, and social interaction improved in the PTSD model. LIMITATIONS The mechanism of BDNF-mTOR signaling after (2R,6R)-HNK administration was not explored. CONCLUSION (2R,6R)-HNK may ameliorate negative mood and social avoidance symptoms in PTSD rats by regulating BDNF/mTOR-mediated synaptic structural plasticity in the NAc, providing new targets for the development of anti-PTSD drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luping Gou
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Yu Li
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Shiqi Liu
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Haohan Sang
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Jiajun Lan
- School of Clinical Medical, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Jinhong Chen
- College of Extended Education, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Clinical Competency Training Center, Medical Experiment and Training Center, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong, 261053, China
| | - Changjiang Li
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Bo Lian
- Department of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China
| | - Xianqiang Zhang
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China; National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, Peking University Sixth Hospital/Institute of Mental Health and the Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Ministry of Health (Peking University), Beijing, China
| | - Hongwei Sun
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China.
| | - Lin Sun
- School of Psychology, Weifang Medical University, 7166# Baotong West Street, Weifang, Shandong 261053, China.
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26
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Zhang ZX, Liu RB, Zhang J, Xian-Yu CY, Liu JL, Li XZ, Zhang YQ, Zhang C. Clinical outcomes of recommended active pharmacotherapy agents from NICE guideline for post-traumatic stress disorder: Network meta-analysis. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2023; 125:110754. [PMID: 36934999 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2023.110754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that can emerge after an individual experiences a traumatic event such as physical abuse, sexual/relationship violence, combat exposure, witnessing death, or serious injury. This study aimed to identify the most suitable drugs for the management of PTSD based on a network meta-analysis (NMA). METHODS Six databases (Ovid Medline, EMBase, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, Ovid Health and Psychosocial Instruments, and Web of Science) were searched from inception to September 6, 2022. RESULTS Thirty articles with a total of 5170 participants were included. Compared with placebo, active drugs including olanzapine (SMD = -0.66, 95% CI: -1.19 to -0.13), risperidone (SMD = -0.23, 95% CI: -0.42 to -0.03), quetiapine (SMD = -0.49, 95% CI: -0.93 to -0.04), venlafaxine (SMD = -0.29, 95% CI: -0.42 to -0.16), sertraline (SMD = -0.23, 95% CI: -0.34 to -0.11), paroxetine (SMD = -0.48, 95% CI: -0.60 to -0.36) and fluoxetine (SMD = -0.27, 95% CI: -0.42 to -0.12), significantly reduced the total clinician-administered PTSD scale score. CONCLUSION The results of this study support the use of paroxetine, venlafaxine, and quetiapine as first-line treatment for PTSD. In addition, quetiapine is recommended for patients with PTSD affected by symptoms of hyperarousal and re-experience disorder. Clinicians should prescribe medications based on the severity of PTSD symptoms and other conditions to develop the best treatment strategy for this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Xin Zhang
- Center for Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Research, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Run-Ben Liu
- Center for Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Research, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Information Resources, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Chen-Yang Xian-Yu
- Center for Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Research, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Jia-Ling Liu
- Center for Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Research, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Xiao-Zheng Li
- Center for Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Research, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Yu-Qiang Zhang
- Division of Medical Affairs, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei, China..
| | - Chao Zhang
- Center for Evidence-Based Medicine and Clinical Research, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, Hubei, China.
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Rosenheck R, Kurtz SG, Anand ST, Hau C, Smedberg D, Sicilia R, Pontzer JF, Ferguson RE. Impact of multi-site clinical trial results on clinical practice: Use of risperidone to treat PTSD nationally in the veterans health administration. Psychiatry Res 2023; 321:115071. [PMID: 36720177 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Multi-site randomized effectiveness trials evaluate treatments under real-world conditions. Whether results change practice is under-studied. A 6-month 26-site Veterans Health Administration (VHA) cooperative study published in 2011 compared an oral second-generation antipsychotic, risperidone, to placebo for refractory PTSD with null results. National VHA administrative data compared new starts on risperidone during the 5 years before and after the year of publication. Among the 450,000-841,000 Veterans diagnosed with PTSD annually from 2006 to 2016 the proportion with new starts on risperidone declined every year before and after publication. No evidence of an effect of null study results on VHA clinical practice was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Rosenheck
- VA New England Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center, West Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale Medical School, West Haven, CT, USA.
| | | | | | - Cynthia Hau
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - James F Pontzer
- VA Clinical Research Pharmacy Coordinating Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA; VA Office of Research and Development, Cooperative Studies Program, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Ryan E Ferguson
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA; Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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28
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Lieberman JM, Rabellino D, Densmore M, Frewen PA, Steyrl D, Scharnowski F, Théberge J, Neufeld RWJ, Schmahl C, Jetly R, Narikuzhy S, Lanius RA, Nicholson AA. Posterior cingulate cortex targeted real-time fMRI neurofeedback recalibrates functional connectivity with the amygdala, posterior insula, and default-mode network in PTSD. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e2883. [PMID: 36791212 PMCID: PMC10013955 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alterations within large-scale brain networks-namely, the default mode (DMN) and salience networks (SN)-are present among individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Previous real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography neurofeedback studies suggest that regulating posterior cingulate cortex (PCC; the primary hub of the posterior DMN) activity may reduce PTSD symptoms and recalibrate altered network dynamics. However, PCC connectivity to the DMN and SN during PCC-targeted fMRI neurofeedback remains unexamined and may help to elucidate neurophysiological mechanisms through which these symptom improvements may occur. METHODS Using a trauma/emotion provocation paradigm, we investigated psychophysiological interactions over a single session of neurofeedback among PTSD (n = 14) and healthy control (n = 15) participants. We compared PCC functional connectivity between regulate (in which participants downregulated PCC activity) and view (in which participants did not exert regulatory control) conditions across the whole-brain as well as in a priori specified regions-of-interest. RESULTS During regulate as compared to view conditions, only the PTSD group showed significant PCC connectivity with anterior DMN (dmPFC, vmPFC) and SN (posterior insula) regions, whereas both groups displayed PCC connectivity with other posterior DMN areas (precuneus/cuneus). Additionally, as compared with controls, the PTSD group showed significantly greater PCC connectivity with the SN (amygdala) during regulate as compared to view conditions. Moreover, linear regression analyses revealed that during regulate as compared to view conditions, PCC connectivity to DMN and SN regions was positively correlated to psychiatric symptoms across all participants. CONCLUSION In summary, observations of PCC connectivity to the DMN and SN provide emerging evidence of neural mechanisms underlying PCC-targeted fMRI neurofeedback among individuals with PTSD. This supports the use of PCC-targeted neurofeedback as a means by which to recalibrate PTSD-associated alterations in neural connectivity within the DMN and SN, which together, may help to facilitate improved emotion regulation abilities in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Lieberman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniela Rabellino
- Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Maria Densmore
- Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul A Frewen
- Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Steyrl
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Frank Scharnowski
- Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jean Théberge
- Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St. Joseph's Healthcare, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard W J Neufeld
- Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christian Schmahl
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rakesh Jetly
- The Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Royal Ottawa Hospital, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sandhya Narikuzhy
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ruth A Lanius
- Imaging, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Homewood Research Institute, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew A Nicholson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,The Institute of Mental Health Research, University of Ottawa, Royal Ottawa Hospital, Ontario, Canada.,Homewood Research Institute, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.,Atlas Institute for Veterans and Families, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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29
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Sachdeva B, Sachdeva P, Ghosh S, Ahmad F, Sinha JK. Ketamine as a therapeutic agent in major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder: Potential medicinal and deleterious effects. IBRAIN 2023; 9:90-101. [PMID: 37786516 PMCID: PMC10528797 DOI: 10.1002/ibra.12094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are the most common causes of emotional distress that impair an individual's quality of life. MDD is a chronic mental illness that affects 300 million people across the world. Clinical manifestations of MDD include fatigue, loss of interest in routine tasks, psychomotor agitation, impaired ability to focus, suicidal ideation, hypersomnolence, altered psychosocial functioning, and appetite loss. Individuals with depression also demonstrate a reduced behavioral response while experiencing pleasure, a symptom known as anhedonia. Like MDD, PTSD is a prevalent and debilitating psychiatric disorder resulting from a traumatic incident such as sexual assault, war, severe accident, or natural disaster. Symptoms such as recalling event phases, hypervigilance, irritability, and anhedonia are common in PTSD. Both MDD and PTSD pose enormous socioeconomic burdens across the globe. The search for effective treatment with minimal side effects is still ongoing. Ketamine is known for its anesthetic and analgesic properties. Psychedelic and psychotropic effects of ketamine have been found on the nervous system, which highlights its toxicity. In this article, the effectiveness of ketamine as a potential therapeutic for PTSD and MDD along with its mechanisms of action, clinical trials, and possible side effects have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhuvi Sachdeva
- Department of Physics and Astrophysics, Bhagini Nivedita CollegeUniversity of DelhiDelhiIndia
| | | | - Shampa Ghosh
- GloNeuro AcademyNoidaUttar PradeshIndia
- ICMR—National Institute of NutritionTarnakaHyderabadIndia
| | - Faizan Ahmad
- Department of Medical Elementology and ToxicologyJamia HamdardDelhiIndia
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30
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Nahvi RJ, Tanelian A, Nwokafor C, Godino A, Parise E, Estill M, Shen L, Nestler EJ, Sabban EL. Transcriptome profiles associated with resilience and susceptibility to single prolonged stress in the locus coeruleus and nucleus accumbens in male sprague-dawley rats. Behav Brain Res 2023; 439:114162. [PMID: 36257560 PMCID: PMC9812303 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Although most people are subjected to traumatic stress at least once in their lifetime, only a subset develop long-lasting, stress-triggered neuropsychiatric disorders, such as PTSD. Here we examined different transcriptome profiles within the locus coeruleus (LC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) that may contribute to stress susceptibility. Sprague Dawley male rats were exposed to the single prolonged stress (SPS) model for PTSD. Two weeks later they were tested for their anxiety/avoidance behavior on the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and were divided into high and low anxiety-like subgroups. RNA (n = 5 per group) was subsequently isolated from LC and NAc and subjected to RNAseq. Transcriptome analysis was used to identify differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) which differed by at least 50 % with significance of 0.01. The LC had more than six times the number of DEGs than the NAc. Only one DEG was regulated similarly in both locations. Many of the DEGs in the LC were associated with morphological changes, including regulation of actin cytoskeleton, growth factor activity, regulation of cell size, brain development and memory, with KEGG pathway of regulation of actin cytoskeleton. The DEGs in the NAc were primarily related to DNA repair and synthesis, and differential regulation of cytokine production. The analysis identified MTPN (myotrophin) and NR3C1 (glucocorticoid receptor) as important upstream regulators of stress susceptibility in the LC. Overall the study provides new insight into molecular pathways in the LC and NAc that are associated with anxiety-like behavior triggered by stress susceptibility or resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roxanna J Nahvi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, United States
| | - Arax Tanelian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, United States
| | - Chiso Nwokafor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, United States
| | - Arthur Godino
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Eric Parise
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Molly Estill
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Li Shen
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Eric J Nestler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Esther L Sabban
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, United States.
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31
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Weygandt J, Moody M, Sajjadi NB, Greiner B, Ford AI, Mazur A, Hartwell M. Discontinuation and nonpublication of clinical trials for the pharmacologic treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder among military veterans. J Trauma Stress 2023; 36:325-332. [PMID: 36787385 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Failures by researchers and clinicians to overcome barriers in veteran health-related research may result in clinical trial (CT) discontinuation and nonpublication. Such outcomes are a waste of limited academic resources. To determine rates of discontinuation and nonpublication among CTs for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with pharmaceutical interventions specific to the veteran population, we performed a systematic search of registered trials in ClinicalTrials.gov for pharmaceutical interventions for the treatment of PTSD. Extracted study characteristics included sample size, study design, trial status, phase, and funding source. Studies were classified as completed or discontinued based on the status listed in ClinicalTrials.gov. Descriptive statistics of trials were reported, and associations of trial termination and nonpublication were assessed using logistic regression. The final sample included 54 CTs, 15 of which (27.8%) had not been published within the FDA's required timeframe, and 11 (20.4%) were discontinued. The total number of trial participants was 3,463, with a median of 37 (interquartile range: 15-92). Of the 54 trials, 12 (22.2%) were nonrandomized, and 42 (77.8%) were randomized. There were 25 (46.3%) trials that were in either Phase 3 or Phase 4, and 39 (72.2%) were government-funded. We found high rates of CT discontinuation and nonpublication among PTSD pharmaceutical intervention studies in veterans, as has been shown in other fields of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Weygandt
- Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Office of Medical Student Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Morgan Moody
- Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Office of Medical Student Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Nicholas B Sajjadi
- Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Office of Medical Student Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Benjamin Greiner
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Department of Internal Medicine, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Alicia Ito Ford
- Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Anna Mazur
- Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Micah Hartwell
- Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, Office of Medical Student Research, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA.,Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
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32
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Shafia S, Nikkhah F, Akhoundzadeh K. Effect of combination fluoxetine and exercise on prefrontal BDNF, anxiety-like behavior and fear extinction in a female rat model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a comparison with male animals. Behav Brain Funct 2023; 19:1. [PMID: 36647145 PMCID: PMC9843848 DOI: 10.1186/s12993-023-00204-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite significant differences between men and women in the symptoms of PTSD and the response to therapeutic interventions, most PTSD studies have been done on male subjects. Continuing our previous study in male rats, this study aimed at better understanding the effect of a combination therapy of exercise with fluoxetine on female PTSD rats. The results were then compared with our past findings in male animals. Female adult Wistar rats subjected to PTSD were treated with moderate treadmill exercise or fluoxetine, or a combination of both. PTSD was induced by the single prolonged stress (SPS) model. Elevated plus-maze (EPM), serum and prefrontal BDNF, and fear extinctions were evaluated. The results showed that exercise plus fluoxetine decreased anxiety-like behavior, improved fear extinction, and increased BDNF changes in female rats. The effects of exercise alone were comparable with those of combination therapy except that combination therapy was more effective on OAT (open arm entry). The majority of results in female rats, except for those of prefrontal BDNF, 4th extinction, and OAT, were similar to those of male rats as shown in our previous study. According to our findings, exercise as a safe and cost-effective intervention can be considered as a complementary efficient option for PTSD treatment in both sexes. To achieve better treatment outcomes in PTSD patient, considering sex differences is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakineh Shafia
- grid.411623.30000 0001 2227 0923Immunogenetics Research Center, Department of Physiology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Farkhonde Nikkhah
- grid.411623.30000 0001 2227 0923Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Kobra Akhoundzadeh
- grid.444830.f0000 0004 0384 871XFaculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
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33
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Holter KM, Pierce BE, Gould RW. Metabotropic glutamate receptor function and regulation of sleep-wake cycles. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 168:93-175. [PMID: 36868636 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2022.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptors are the most abundant family of G-protein coupled receptors and are widely expressed throughout the central nervous system (CNS). Alterations in glutamate homeostasis, including dysregulations in mGlu receptor function, have been indicated as key contributors to multiple CNS disorders. Fluctuations in mGlu receptor expression and function also occur across diurnal sleep-wake cycles. Sleep disturbances including insomnia are frequently comorbid with neuropsychiatric, neurodevelopmental, and neurodegenerative conditions. These often precede behavioral symptoms and/or correlate with symptom severity and relapse. Chronic sleep disturbances may also be a consequence of primary symptom progression and can exacerbate neurodegeneration in disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, there is a bidirectional relationship between sleep disturbances and CNS disorders; disrupted sleep may serve as both a cause and a consequence of the disorder. Importantly, comorbid sleep disturbances are rarely a direct target of primary pharmacological treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders even though improving sleep can positively impact other symptom clusters. This chapter details known roles of mGlu receptor subtypes in both sleep-wake regulation and CNS disorders focusing on schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, AD, and substance use disorder (cocaine and opioid). In this chapter, preclinical electrophysiological, genetic, and pharmacological studies are described, and, when possible, human genetic, imaging, and post-mortem studies are also discussed. In addition to reviewing the important relationships between sleep, mGlu receptors, and CNS disorders, this chapter highlights the development of selective mGlu receptor ligands that hold promise for improving both primary symptoms and sleep disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly M Holter
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Bethany E Pierce
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Robert W Gould
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States.
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Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is characterized by symptoms of re-experiencing, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition and mood, and marked alterations in arousal and reactivity following exposure to a traumatic event. PTSD can be assessed by structured interviews and screening measures in psychiatric and nonpsychiatric settings. Evidence-based psychotherapies are the first-line treatment of PTSD, with cognitive behavioral therapies, such as prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing having the largest body and highest quality of evidence. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the first-line pharmacologic treatments for PTSD and are often used in conjunction with other therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Addie N Merians
- Clinical Neurosciences Division, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, West Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George Street #901, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Tobias Spiller
- Clinical Neurosciences Division, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, West Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George Street #901, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Ilan Harpaz-Rotem
- Clinical Neurosciences Division, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, West Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George Street #901, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - John H Krystal
- Clinical Neurosciences Division, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, West Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George Street #901, New Haven, CT 06511, USA.
| | - Robert H Pietrzak
- Clinical Neurosciences Division, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, West Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 300 George Street #901, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
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35
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Stout DM, Harlé KM, Norman SB, Simmons AN, Spadoni AD. Resting-state connectivity subtype of comorbid PTSD and alcohol use disorder moderates improvement from integrated prolonged exposure therapy in Veterans. Psychol Med 2023; 53:332-341. [PMID: 33926595 PMCID: PMC10880798 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291721001513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) are highly comorbid and are associated with significant functional impairment and inconsistent treatment outcomes. Data-driven subtyping of this clinically heterogeneous patient population and the associated underlying neural mechanisms are highly needed to identify who will benefit from psychotherapy. METHODS In 53 comorbid PTSD/AUD patients, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was collected prior to undergoing individual psychotherapy. We used a data-driven approach to subgroup patients based on directed connectivity profiles. Connectivity subgroups were compared on clinical measures of PTSD severity and heavy alcohol use collected at pre- and post-treatment. RESULTS We identified a subgroup of patients associated with improvement in PTSD symptoms from integrated-prolonged exposure therapy. This subgroup was characterized by lower insula to inferior parietal cortex (IPC) connectivity, higher pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC) to posterior midcingulate cortex connectivity and a unique pgACC to IPC path. We did not observe any connectivity subgroup that uniquely benefited from integrated-coping skills or subgroups associated with change in alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS Data-driven approaches to characterize PTSD/AUD subtypes have the potential to identify brain network profiles that are implicated in the benefit from psychological interventions - setting the stage for future research that targets these brain circuit communication patterns to boost treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M. Stout
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Katia M. Harlé
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sonya B. Norman
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
- National Center for PTSD, White River Junction, Vermont, USA
| | - Alan N. Simmons
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Andrea D. Spadoni
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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36
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Jou YC, Pace-Schott EF. Call to action: Addressing sleep disturbances, a hallmark symptom of PTSD, for refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons. Sleep Health 2022; 8:593-600. [PMID: 36511279 PMCID: PMC9757843 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Sleep difficulty is a recognized hallmark symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) yet often remains an enduring and neglected problem post-treatment. Around 4.4%- 88.0% of refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons report PTSD, of which 39%- 99% report sleep difficulties. These percentages substantially exceed those of the general population. Yet there has been a lack of research examining evidence-based stand-alone and add-on treatments for PTSD and related sleep disturbances among this population. Barriers to treatment encountered by this population often vary by their legal status or location, but generally include lack of access due to insufficient evidence-based treatments or mental health practitioner shortages, lack of psychoeducation on mental health, cultural stigma, language barriers, situational instability, and racial bias. The refugee population has been on the rise over the past 10 years, and the United Nations estimated the recent Ukraine-Russia conflict would lead to an additional 12 million people needing humanitarian assistance inside Ukraine and more than 6.9 million refugees fleeing to neighboring countries in the coming months. Given that refugees, asylum seekers, and internally displaced persons repeatedly encounter barriers to mental health care specific to their predicament, interventions designed to accommodate their situation are imperative for improving their sleep and mental health. We therefore call for there to be more research on integrative programs incorporating evidence-based treatments that allow for scalability, adaptability, and rapid dissemination to maximize impact in this population. Further, we encourage trainings among clinicians and researchers to increase knowledge and confidence in working with this population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Edward F Pace-Schott
- Harvard Extension School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA; Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA; Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA.
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37
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Woodward SH. Autonomic regulation during sleep in PTSD. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 21:100483. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
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Telch MJ, Fischer CM, Zaizar ED, Rubin M, Papini S. Use of Cannabidiol (CBD) oil in the treatment of PTSD: Study design and rationale for a placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial. Contemp Clin Trials 2022; 122:106933. [PMID: 36154908 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2022.106933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of illness for PTSD is staggering and confers significant interference in work, social functioning, as well as increased risk for other physical and mental health problems. Recently, there's been considerable attention paid to the potential therapeutic use of cannabidiol (CBD) products in the treatment of a variety of physical and mental health problems. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a logical therapeutic target for combating PTSD and other fear-based disorders given that cannabinoid receptors and other molecular mediators crucial for ECS signaling are richly expressed in a variety of brain regions that govern the regulation of learned fear and defensive behavior. METHODS This is an 8-week single-site Phase II randomized double-blind placebo-controlled fixed dose clinical trial. Participants recruited throughout the United States (N = 150) meeting DSM-5 criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder are randomly assigned to one of three treatment arms: (a) 300 mg CBD Isolate; (b) 300 mg CBD Broad Spectrum; and (c) Placebo oil. The primary outcome is PTSD symptom severity as indexed by the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) assessed at post treatment (Week 9) and follow-up (Week 13). Secondary outcomes including patient-rated depression, overall disability, anxiety, quality of life, and alcohol use are assessed weekly throughout the trial. Safety and CBD adherence are assessed daily throughout the trial. CONCLUSION This is the first placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating (a) CBD for the treatment of PTSD; and (b) the first study to test the relative efficacy of CBD Isolate vs CBD Broad Spectrum. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov registered (12/12/2019), trial identifier NCT04197102. PROTOCOL VERSION issued 08/04/2022, protocol amendment number #2019-05-0123.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Telch
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, United States; Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, United States.
| | - Caitlin M Fischer
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, United States; Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, United States
| | - Eric D Zaizar
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, United States; Institute for Mental Health Research, The University of Texas at Austin, United States
| | - Mikael Rubin
- Department of Psychology, Palo Alto University, United States
| | - Santiago Papini
- Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, United States
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Szeleszczuk Ł, Frączkowski D. Propranolol versus Other Selected Drugs in the Treatment of Various Types of Anxiety or Stress, with Particular Reference to Stage Fright and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710099. [PMID: 36077489 PMCID: PMC9456064 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Propranolol, a non-cardioselective β1,2 blocker, is most commonly recognised for its application in the therapy of various cardiovascular conditions, such as hypertension, coronary artery disease, and tachyarrhythmias. However, due to its ability to cross the blood–brain barrier and affinity towards multiple macromolecules, not only adrenoreceptors, it has also found application in other fields. For example, it is one of the very few medications successfully applied in the treatment of stage fright. This review focuses on the application of propranolol in the treatment of various types of anxiety and stress, with particular reference to stage fright and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Both mechanisms of action as well as comparison with other therapies are presented. As those indications for propranolol are, in most countries, considered off-label, this review aims to gather information that can be useful while making a decision about the choice of propranolol as a drug in the treatment of those mental conditions.
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Shiner B, Huybrechts K, Gui J, Rozema L, Forehand J, Watts BV, Jiang T, Hoyt JE, Esteves J, Schnurr PP, Ray K, Gradus JL. Comparative Effectiveness of Direct-Acting Antivirals for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans Affairs Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Am J Epidemiol 2022; 191:1614-1625. [PMID: 35689641 PMCID: PMC9989349 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwac104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We recently conducted an exploratory study that indicated that several direct-acting antivirals (DAAs), highly effective medications for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, were also associated with improvement in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among a national cohort of US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) patients treated between October 1, 1999, and September 30, 2019. Limiting the same cohort to patients with PTSD and HCV, we compared the associations of individual DAAs with PTSD symptom improvement using propensity score weighting. After identifying patients who had available baseline and endpoint PTSD symptom data as measured with the PTSD Checklist (PCL), we compared changes over the 8-12 weeks of DAA treatment. The DAAs most prescribed in conjunction with PCL measurement were glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB; n = 54), sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (SOF/VEL; n = 54), and ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (LDV/SOF; n = 145). GLE/PIB was superior to LDV/SOF, with a mean difference in improvement of 7.3 points on the PCL (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1, 13.6). The mean differences in improvement on the PCL were smaller between GLE/PIB and SOF/VEL (3.0, 95% CI: -6.3, 12.2) and between SOF/VEL and LDV/SOF (4.4, 95% CI: -2.4, 11.2). While almost all patients were cured of HCV (92.5%) regardless of the agent received, PTSD outcomes were superior for those receiving GLE/PIB compared with those receiving LDV/SOF, indicating that GLE/PIB may merit further investigation as a potential PTSD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Shiner
- Correspondence to Dr. Brian Shiner, VA Medical Center, 215 N. Main Street, White River Junction, VT 05009 (e-mail: )
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41
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Ching TH, Williams MT, Wang JB, Jerome L, Yazar-Klosinski B, Emerson A, Doblin R. MDMA-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: A pooled analysis of ethnoracial differences in efficacy and safety from two Phase 2 open-label lead-in trials and a Phase 3 randomized, blinded placebo-controlled trial. J Psychopharmacol 2022; 36:974-986. [PMID: 35727042 DOI: 10.1177/02698811221104052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Limited ethnoracial diversity in previous ±3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted therapy (MDMA-AT) trials for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has prompted questions concerning whether Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) also benefit from this treatment. METHODS Secondary analysis was conducted using a modified intent-to-treat sample pooled from two Phase 2 open-label trials and a Phase 3 randomized, blinded placebo-controlled trial to compare efficacy and safety of MDMA-AT for PTSD between BIPOC and non-Hispanic White participants. Four subgroups were of interest: MDMA-AT, BIPOC (n = 20); MDMA-AT, non-Hispanic White (n = 63); Placebo-assisted therapy (Placebo-AT), BIPOC (n = 17); and Placebo-AT, non-Hispanic White (n = 27). Planned comparisons tested subgroup differences in changes in Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) scores from baseline to primary endpoint, controlling for study type and baseline scores. Adverse events (AEs) on the day of (day 0) to 2 days post-dosing were reported for each subgroup. RESULTS In the MDMA-AT group, no significant ethnoracial difference in CAPS-5 change scores was observed. In the Placebo-AT group, BIPOC participants trended toward greater reductions in CAPS-5 scores than non-Hispanic Whites. Among non-Hispanic Whites, MDMA-AT was accompanied by significantly greater reductions in CAPS-5 scores than Placebo-AT. No treatment difference emerged among BIPOC participants. AEs were mostly rated as mild or moderate across subgroups. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide preliminary support for the efficacy and safety of MDMA-AT for treating PTSD across ethnoracial groups. There was also a trend toward greater efficacy with Placebo-AT among BIPOC participants. There was an imbalance in subgroups, highlighting the need for culturally responsive recruitment strategies to diversify future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terence Hw Ching
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Mansfield, CT, USA
| | | | - Julie B Wang
- MAPS Public Benefit Corporation, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Lisa Jerome
- MAPS Public Benefit Corporation, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | | | - Amy Emerson
- MAPS Public Benefit Corporation, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Rick Doblin
- Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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42
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Difede J, Rothbaum BO, Rizzo AA, Wyka K, Spielman L, Reist C, Roy MJ, Jovanovic T, Norrholm SD, Cukor J, Olden M, Glatt CE, Lee FS. Enhancing exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): a randomized clinical trial of virtual reality and imaginal exposure with a cognitive enhancer. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:299. [PMID: 35896533 PMCID: PMC9329292 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-02066-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a significant public health issue. Yet, there are limited treatment options and no data to suggest which treatment will work for whom. We tested the efficacy of virtual reality exposure (VRE) or prolonged imaginal exposure (PE), augmented with D-cycloserine (DCS) for combat-related PTSD. As an exploratory aim, we examined whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) moderated treatment response. Military personnel with PTSD (n = 192) were recruited into a multisite double-blind randomized controlled trial to receive nine weeks of VRE or PE, with DCS or placebo. Primary outcome was the improvement in symptom severity. Randomization was stratified by comorbid depression (MDD) and site. Participants in both VRE and PE showed similar meaningful clinical improvement with no difference between the treatment groups. A significant interaction (p = 0.45) suggested VRE was more effective for depressed participants (CAPS difference M = 3.51 [95% CI 1.17-5.86], p = 0.004, ES = 0.14) while PE was more effective for nondepressed participants (M = -8.87 [95% CI -11.33 to -6.40], p < 0.001, ES = -0.44). The main effect of DCS vs. placebo was not significant. Augmentation by MDD interaction (p = 0.073) suggested that depressed participants improved more on placebo (M = -8.43 [95% CI -10.98 to -5.88], p < 0.001, ES = -0.42); DCS and placebo were equally effective for nondepressed participants. There was an apparent moderating effect of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on DCS augmentation (ES = 0.67). Met66 allele carriers improved more on DCS (ES = -0.25). FAAH 385 A carriers improved more than non-carriers (ES = 0.33), particularly those with MDD (ES = 0.62). This study provides a step toward precision therapeutics for PTSD by demonstrating that comorbid MDD and genetic markers may help guide treatment selection.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01352637.
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Affiliation(s)
- JoAnn Difede
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
| | | | - Albert A Rizzo
- University of Southern California Institute for Creative Technologies, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Katarzyna Wyka
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lisa Spielman
- Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher Reist
- Department of Psychiatry, VA Long Beach Healthcare System, Long Beach, CA, USA
- University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
- Science 37, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael J Roy
- Department of Medicine and Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Seth D Norrholm
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Judith Cukor
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Megan Olden
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charles E Glatt
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Francis S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
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43
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Wingo TS, Liu Y, Gerasimov ES, Vattathil SM, Wynne ME, Liu J, Lori A, Faundez V, Bennett DA, Seyfried NT, Levey AI, Wingo AP. Shared mechanisms across the major psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4314. [PMID: 35882878 PMCID: PMC9325708 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31873-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Several common psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases share epidemiologic risk; however, whether they share pathophysiology is unclear and is the focus of our investigation. Using 25 GWAS results and LD score regression, we find eight significant genetic correlations between psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. We integrate the GWAS results with human brain transcriptomes (n = 888) and proteomes (n = 722) to identify cis- and trans- transcripts and proteins that are consistent with a pleiotropic or causal role in each disease, referred to as causal proteins for brevity. Within each disease group, we find many distinct and shared causal proteins. Remarkably, 30% (13 of 42) of the neurodegenerative disease causal proteins are shared with psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, we find 2.6-fold more protein-protein interactions among the psychiatric and neurodegenerative causal proteins than expected by chance. Together, our findings suggest these psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases have shared genetic and molecular pathophysiology, which has important ramifications for early treatment and therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Wingo
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Yue Liu
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Selina M Vattathil
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Meghan E Wynne
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jiaqi Liu
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Adriana Lori
- Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Victor Faundez
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Nicholas T Seyfried
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Allan I Levey
- Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Aliza P Wingo
- Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Veterans Affairs Atlanta Health Care System, Decatur, GA, USA.
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Abdallah CG, Roache JD, Gueorguieva R, Averill LA, Young-McCaughan S, Shiroma PR, Purohit P, Brundige A, Murff W, Ahn KH, Sherif MA, Baltutis EJ, Ranganathan M, D’Souza D, Martini B, Southwick SM, Petrakis IL, Burson RR, Guthmiller KB, López-Roca AL, Lautenschlager KA, McCallin JP, Hoch MB, Timchenko A, Souza SE, Bryant CE, Mintz J, Litz BT, Williamson DE, Keane TM, Peterson AL, Krystal JH. Dose-related effects of ketamine for antidepressant-resistant symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in veterans and active duty military: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled multi-center clinical trial. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1574-1581. [PMID: 35046508 PMCID: PMC8767037 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-022-01266-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
This study tested the efficacy of repeated intravenous ketamine doses to reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Veterans and service members with PTSD (n = 158) who failed previous antidepressant treatment were randomized to 8 infusions administered twice weekly of intravenous placebo (n = 54), low dose (0.2 mg/kg; n = 53) or standard dose (0.5 mg/kg; n = 51) ketamine. Participants were assessed at baseline, during treatment, and for 4 weeks after their last infusion. Primary analyses used mixed effects models. The primary outcome measure was the self-report PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and secondary outcome measures were the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) and the Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). There were no significant group-by-time interactions for PTSD symptoms measured by the PCL-5 or CAPS-5. The standard ketamine dose ameliorated depression measured by the MADRS significantly more than placebo. Ketamine produced dose-related dissociative and psychotomimetic effects, which returned to baseline within 2 h and were less pronounced with repeated administration. There was no evidence of differential treatment discontinuation by ketamine dose, consistent with good tolerability. This clinical trial failed to find a significant dose-related effect of ketamine on PTSD symptoms. Secondary analyses suggested that the standard dose exerted rapid antidepressant effects. Further studies are needed to determine the role of ketamine in PTSD treatment. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02655692.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chadi G. Abdallah
- grid.418356.d0000 0004 0478 7015National Center for PTSD, Clinical Neurosciences Division, US Department of Veterans Affairs, West Haven, CT USA ,grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA ,grid.413890.70000 0004 0420 5521Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX USA ,grid.39382.330000 0001 2160 926XMenninger Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA ,grid.39382.330000 0001 2160 926XCore for Advanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CAMRI), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - John D. Roache
- grid.267309.90000 0001 0629 5880Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX USA ,grid.280682.60000 0004 0420 5695Research and Development Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX USA
| | - Ralitza Gueorguieva
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Lynnette A. Averill
- grid.418356.d0000 0004 0478 7015National Center for PTSD, Clinical Neurosciences Division, US Department of Veterans Affairs, West Haven, CT USA ,grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA ,grid.413890.70000 0004 0420 5521Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX USA ,grid.39382.330000 0001 2160 926XMenninger Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Stacey Young-McCaughan
- grid.267309.90000 0001 0629 5880Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX USA ,grid.280682.60000 0004 0420 5695Research and Development Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX USA
| | - Paulo R. Shiroma
- grid.491585.4Minneapolis VA Medical Center and the Department of Psychiatry University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - Prerana Purohit
- grid.418356.d0000 0004 0478 7015National Center for PTSD, Clinical Neurosciences Division, US Department of Veterans Affairs, West Haven, CT USA ,grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Antoinette Brundige
- grid.267309.90000 0001 0629 5880Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX USA ,grid.280682.60000 0004 0420 5695Research and Development Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX USA
| | - William Murff
- grid.267309.90000 0001 0629 5880Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX USA
| | - Kyung-Heup Ahn
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Mohamed A. Sherif
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA ,grid.40263.330000 0004 1936 9094Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, and Carney Institute, Brown University; and Lifespan Physician Group, Providence, RI USA
| | - Eric J. Baltutis
- grid.491585.4Minneapolis VA Medical Center and the Department of Psychiatry University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN USA
| | - Mohini Ranganathan
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Deepak D’Souza
- grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Brenda Martini
- grid.418356.d0000 0004 0478 7015National Center for PTSD, Clinical Neurosciences Division, US Department of Veterans Affairs, West Haven, CT USA ,grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Steven M. Southwick
- grid.418356.d0000 0004 0478 7015National Center for PTSD, Clinical Neurosciences Division, US Department of Veterans Affairs, West Haven, CT USA ,grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Ismene L. Petrakis
- grid.418356.d0000 0004 0478 7015National Center for PTSD, Clinical Neurosciences Division, US Department of Veterans Affairs, West Haven, CT USA ,grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Rebecca R. Burson
- grid.416653.30000 0004 0450 5663Department of Behavioral Health, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Houston, TX USA
| | - Kevin B. Guthmiller
- grid.416653.30000 0004 0450 5663Department of Pain Management, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Houston, TX USA ,grid.42505.360000 0001 2156 6853Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA USA
| | - Argelio L. López-Roca
- grid.416653.30000 0004 0450 5663Department of Behavioral Health, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Houston, TX USA
| | - Karl A. Lautenschlager
- grid.416653.30000 0004 0450 5663Department of Pain Management, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Houston, TX USA
| | - John P. McCallin
- grid.416653.30000 0004 0450 5663Department of Rehabilitation, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Houston, TX USA
| | - Matthew B. Hoch
- grid.416653.30000 0004 0450 5663Department of Rehabilitation, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Houston, TX USA
| | - Alexandar Timchenko
- grid.416653.30000 0004 0450 5663Department of Rehabilitation, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Houston, TX USA
| | - Sergio E. Souza
- grid.416653.30000 0004 0450 5663Department of Rehabilitation, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Houston, TX USA
| | - Charles E. Bryant
- grid.416653.30000 0004 0450 5663Department of Rehabilitation, Brooke Army Medical Center, Joint Base San Antonio – Fort Sam Houston, Houston, TX USA
| | - Jim Mintz
- grid.267309.90000 0001 0629 5880Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX USA ,grid.280682.60000 0004 0420 5695Research and Development Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX USA
| | - Brett T. Litz
- grid.410370.10000 0004 4657 1992Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA USA ,grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
| | - Douglas E. Williamson
- grid.412100.60000 0001 0667 3730Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke Health, Durham, NC USA ,grid.512153.1Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, NC USA
| | - Terence M. Keane
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA ,grid.410370.10000 0004 4657 1992National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA USA
| | - Alan L. Peterson
- grid.267309.90000 0001 0629 5880Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX USA ,grid.280682.60000 0004 0420 5695Research and Development Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX USA ,grid.215352.20000000121845633Department of Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX USA
| | - John H. Krystal
- grid.418356.d0000 0004 0478 7015National Center for PTSD, Clinical Neurosciences Division, US Department of Veterans Affairs, West Haven, CT USA ,grid.47100.320000000419368710Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT USA
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Wingo TS, Gerasimov ES, Liu Y, Duong DM, Vattathil SM, Lori A, Gockley J, Breen MS, Maihofer AX, Nievergelt CM, Koenen KC, Levey DF, Gelernter J, Stein MB, Ressler KJ, Bennett DA, Levey AI, Seyfried NT, Wingo AP. Integrating human brain proteomes with genome-wide association data implicates novel proteins in post-traumatic stress disorder. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3075-3084. [PMID: 35449297 PMCID: PMC9233006 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01544-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified several risk loci for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, how they confer PTSD risk remains unclear. We aimed to identify genes that confer PTSD risk through their effects on brain protein abundance to provide new insights into PTSD pathogenesis. To that end, we integrated human brain proteomes with PTSD GWAS results to perform a proteome-wide association study (PWAS) of PTSD, followed by Mendelian randomization, using a discovery and confirmatory study design. Brain proteomes (N = 525) were profiled from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex using mass spectrometry. The Million Veteran Program (MVP) PTSD GWAS (n = 186,689) was used for the discovery PWAS, and the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium PTSD GWAS (n = 174,659) was used for the confirmatory PWAS. To understand whether genes identified at the protein-level were also evident at the transcript-level, we performed a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) using human brain transcriptomes (N = 888) and the MVP PTSD GWAS results. We identified 11 genes that contribute to PTSD pathogenesis via their respective cis-regulated brain protein abundance. Seven of 11 genes (64%) replicated in the confirmatory PWAS and 4 of 11 also had their cis-regulated brain mRNA levels associated with PTSD. High confidence level was assigned to 9 of 11 genes after considering evidence from the confirmatory PWAS and TWAS. Most of the identified genes are expressed in other PTSD-relevant brain regions and several are preferentially expressed in excitatory neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocyte precursor cells. These genes are novel, promising targets for mechanistic and therapeutic studies to find new treatments for PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas S Wingo
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Yue Liu
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Duc M Duong
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Selina M Vattathil
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Adriana Lori
- Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Michael S Breen
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetic and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam X Maihofer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Health Care System, Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Caroline M Nievergelt
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Health Care System, Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Karestan C Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Psychiatric Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Daniel F Levey
- Department of Psychiatry Yale, University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Joel Gelernter
- Department of Psychiatry Yale, University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Veterans Affairs Connecticut Health Center System, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Murray B Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- School of Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Allan I Levey
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Nicholas T Seyfried
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Aliza P Wingo
- Department of Psychiatry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Veterans Affairs Atlanta Health Care System, Decatur, GA, USA.
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Zhou C, Assareh N, Arnold JC. The Cannabis Constituent Cannabigerol Does Not Disrupt Fear Memory Processes or Stress-Induced Anxiety in Mice. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2022; 7:294-303. [PMID: 34182770 PMCID: PMC9225414 DOI: 10.1089/can.2021.0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Medicinal cannabis has proliferated around the world and there is increasing interest in the therapeutic potential of individual plant-derived cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids). Preclinical evidence suggests the phytocannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG) could be useful in treating brain disorders, including stress and anxiety-related disorders. In this study, we aimed to explore whether CBG disrupts various contextually conditioned fear memory processes and trauma-induced anxiety-related behavior in a mouse model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Materials and Methods: All mice underwent contextual fear conditioning. CBG was administered between 1 and 60 mg/kg intraperitoneally (i.p.). We first assessed the effects of repeated CBG exposure on long-term fear memories. We also examined whether acute CBG affected various fear memory processes, namely expression, acquisition, consolidation, and reconsolidation of conditioned fear. Finally, the effect of acute CBG administration on stress-induced anxiety in the light/dark test was assessed. Results: Repeated CBG exposure did not affect long-term conditioned fear that was observed 24 days after the conditioning session. Moreover, acute CBG administration did not influence the acquisition, consolidation, reconsolidation, or expression of contextually conditioned fear. Acute CBG treatment also did not affect stress-induced anxiety-related behaviors in the light/dark test. Conclusions: CBG was ineffective in disrupting long-term fear memories, various conditioned fear memory processes, or stress-induced anxiety-related behavior in mice. These preclinical data suggest CBG may have limited scope in the treatment of PTSD and stress-related anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cilla Zhou
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Neda Assareh
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jonathon C. Arnold
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Discipline of Pharmacology, Sydney Pharmacy School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Address correspondence to: Jonathon C. Arnold, PhD, Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, 94 Mallett Street, Camperdown 2050, New South Wales, Australia,
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Artin H, Bentley S, Mehaffey E, Liu FX, Sojourner K, Bismark AW, Printz D, Lee EE, Martis B, De Peralta S, Baker DG, Mishra J, Ramanathan D. Effects of intranasal ( S)-ketamine on Veterans with co-morbid treatment-resistant depression and PTSD: A retrospective case series. EClinicalMedicine 2022; 48:101439. [PMID: 35706484 PMCID: PMC9092498 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND (S)-ketamine is a glutamatergic drug with potent and rapid acting effects for the treatment of depression. Little is known about the effectiveness of intranasal (S)-ketamine for treating patients with comorbid depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS We performed a retrospective case series analysis of clinical outcomes in 35 Veterans with co-morbid depression and PTSD who were treated with intranasal (S)-ketamine treatments at the VA San Diego Neuromodulation Clinic between Jan 2020 and March 2021. Veterans were not randomized or blinded to treatment. The primary outcome measured was a change in patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) scores across the first 8 treatments (induction period) using a repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). In a smaller sub-group (n = 19) of Veterans who received at least 8 additional treatments, we analyzed whether intranasal (S)-ketamine continued to show treatment effects. Finally, we performed a sub-group and correlation analyses to understand how changes in PHQ-9 and PCL-5 scores were related across treatments. FINDINGS During the induction phase of treatment there was an absolute reduction of 5.1 (SEM 0.7) on the patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) rating scale for depression, from 19.8 (SEM 0.7) at treatment 1 to 14.7 (SEM 0.8) at treatment 8 (week 4) (F(7238) = 8.3, p = 1e-6, partial η2 = 0.2). Five Veterans (14%) showed a clinically meaningful response (50% reduction in PHQ-9 score) at treatment 8. There was an absolute reduction of 15.5 +/- 2.4 on the patient checklist 5 (PCL-5) rating scale for PTSD, from 54.8 (SEM 2) at treatment 1 down to 39.3 (SEM 2.5) at treatment 8 (F(7238) = 15.5, p = 2e-7, partial η2 = 0.31). Sixteen Veterans (46%) showed a clinically meaningful response (reduction in PCL-5 of > 30%) in PTSD. Change in PHQ-9 correlated with change in PCL-5 at treatment 8 (r = 0.47, p = 0.005), but a decrease in PTSD symptoms were observable in some individuals with minimal anti-depressant response. INTERPRETATIONS While this is an open-label retrospective analysis, our results indicate that both depression and PTSD symptoms in Veterans with dual-diagnoses may improve with repeated intranasal (S)-ketamine treatment. The effects of (S)-ketamine on PTSD symptoms were temporally and individually distinct from those on depression, suggesting potentially different modes of action on the two disorders. This work may warrant formal randomized controlled studies on the effects of intranasal (S)-ketamine for individuals with co-morbid MDD and PTSD. FUNDING VA Center of Excellence in Stress and Mental Health, VA ORD (Career Development Award to DSR), Burroughs-Wellcome Fund Award (DSR), NIMH (EL).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hewa Artin
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sean Bentley
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Eamonn Mehaffey
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Fred X. Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kevin Sojourner
- Mental Health Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Andrew W. Bismark
- Mental Health Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), San Diego, CA 92161, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - David Printz
- Mental Health Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), San Diego, CA 92161, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VASDHS, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ellen E. Lee
- Mental Health Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), San Diego, CA 92161, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Brian Martis
- Mental Health Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), San Diego, CA 92161, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Sharon De Peralta
- Mental Health Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), San Diego, CA 92161, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Dewleen G. Baker
- Mental Health Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), San Diego, CA 92161, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VASDHS, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jyoti Mishra
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Dhakshin Ramanathan
- Mental Health Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS), San Diego, CA 92161, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VASDHS, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Corresponding author at: Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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Ressler KJ, Berretta S, Bolshakov VY, Rosso IM, Meloni EG, Rauch SL, Carlezon WA. Post-traumatic stress disorder: clinical and translational neuroscience from cells to circuits. Nat Rev Neurol 2022; 18:273-288. [PMID: 35352034 PMCID: PMC9682920 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-022-00635-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a maladaptive and debilitating psychiatric disorder, characterized by re-experiencing, avoidance, negative emotions and thoughts, and hyperarousal in the months and years following exposure to severe trauma. PTSD has a prevalence of approximately 6-8% in the general population, although this can increase to 25% among groups who have experienced severe psychological trauma, such as combat veterans, refugees and victims of assault. The risk of developing PTSD in the aftermath of severe trauma is determined by multiple factors, including genetics - at least 30-40% of the risk of PTSD is heritable - and past history, for example, prior adult and childhood trauma. Many of the primary symptoms of PTSD, including hyperarousal and sleep dysregulation, are increasingly understood through translational neuroscience. In addition, a large amount of evidence suggests that PTSD can be viewed, at least in part, as a disorder that involves dysregulation of normal fear processes. The neural circuitry underlying fear and threat-related behaviour and learning in mammals, including the amygdala-hippocampus-medial prefrontal cortex circuit, is among the most well-understood in behavioural neuroscience. Furthermore, the study of threat-responding and its underlying circuitry has led to rapid progress in understanding learning and memory processes. By combining molecular-genetic approaches with a translational, mechanistic knowledge of fear circuitry, transformational advances in the conceptual framework, diagnosis and treatment of PTSD are possible. In this Review, we describe the clinical features and current treatments for PTSD, examine the neurobiology of symptom domains, highlight genomic advances and discuss translational approaches to understanding mechanisms and identifying new treatments and interventions for this devastating syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry J Ressler
- SPARED Center, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Sabina Berretta
- SPARED Center, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vadim Y Bolshakov
- SPARED Center, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Isabelle M Rosso
- SPARED Center, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Edward G Meloni
- SPARED Center, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Scott L Rauch
- SPARED Center, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - William A Carlezon
- SPARED Center, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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49
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Friend SF, Nachnani R, Powell SB, Risbrough VB. C-Reactive Protein: Marker of risk for post-traumatic stress disorder and its potential for a mechanistic role in trauma response and recovery. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 55:2297-2310. [PMID: 33131159 PMCID: PMC8087722 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Increasing evidence indicates that inflammation plays a role in PTSD and stress disorder pathophysiology. PTSD is consistently associated with higher circulating inflammatory protein levels. Rodent models demonstrate that inflammation promotes enduring avoidance and arousal behaviors after severe stressors (e.g., predator exposure and social defeat), suggesting that inflammation may play a mechanistic role in trauma disorders. C-reactive protein (CRP) is an innate acute phase reactant produced by the liver after acute infection and chronic disease. A growing number of investigations report associations with PTSD diagnosis and elevated peripheral CRP, CRP gene mutations, and CRP gene expression changes in immune signaling pathways. CRP is reasonably established as a potential marker of PTSD and trauma exposure, but if and how it may play a mechanistic role is unclear. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of immune mechanisms in PTSD with a particular focus on the innate immune signaling factor, CRP. We found that although there is consistent evidence of an association of CRP with PTSD symptoms and risk, there is a paucity of data on how CRP might contribute to CNS inflammation in PTSD, and consequently, PTSD symptoms. We discuss potential mechanisms through which CRP could modulate enduring peripheral and CNS stress responses, along with future areas of investigation probing the role of CRP and other innate immune signaling factors in modulating trauma responses. Overall, we found that CRP likely contributes to central inflammation, but how it does so is an area for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha F. Friend
- Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental HealthSan DiegoCAUSA,Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCAUSA
| | - Rahul Nachnani
- Department of PharmacologyPenn State College of MedicineHersheyPAUSA
| | - Susan B. Powell
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCAUSA,Research ServiceVA San Diego Healthcare SystemSan DiegoCAUSA
| | - Victoria B. Risbrough
- Veterans Affairs Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental HealthSan DiegoCAUSA,Department of PsychiatryUniversity of California San DiegoSan DiegoCAUSA
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50
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Shiner B, Forehand JA, Rozema L, Kulldorff M, Watts BV, Trefethen M, Jiang T, Huybrechts KF, Schnurr PP, Vincenti M, Gui J, Gradus JL. Mining Clinical Data for Novel Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Medications. Biol Psychiatry 2022; 91:647-657. [PMID: 34952698 PMCID: PMC8918007 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2021.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the prevalence and negative impact of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there are few medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treatment, and approved medications do not work well enough. We leveraged large-scale electronic health record data to identify existing medications that may be repurposed as PTSD treatments. METHODS We constructed a mechanistic tree of all Food and Drug Administration-approved medications and used the tree-based scan statistic to identify medications associated with greater than expected levels of clinically meaningful improvement in PTSD symptoms using electronic health record data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Our cohort included patients with a diagnosis of PTSD who had repeated symptom measurements using the PTSD Checklist over a 20-year period (N = 168,941). We calculated observed numbers based on patients taking each drug or mechanistically related class of drugs and the expected numbers based on the tree as a whole. RESULTS Medications typically used to treat PTSD, such as the Food and Drug Administration-approved agent sertraline, were associated with improvement in PTSD symptoms, but the effects were small. Several, but not all, direct-acting antivirals used in the treatment of hepatitis C virus demonstrated a strong association with PTSD improvement. The finding was robust to a sensitivity analysis excluding patients who received established PTSD treatments, including trauma-focused psychotherapy, concurrent with hepatitis treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our exploratory approach both demonstrated findings that are consistent with what is known about pharmacotherapy for PTSD and uncovered a novel class of medications that may improve PTSD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Shiner
- White River Junction Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont; Veterans Administration National Center for PTSD, White River Junction, Vermont; Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire.
| | | | - Luke Rozema
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont
| | - Martin Kulldorff
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts,Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bradley V. Watts
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont,Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | | | - Tammy Jiang
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Krista F. Huybrechts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts,Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts,Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Paula P. Schnurr
- National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, White River Junction, Vermont,Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Matthew Vincenti
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, White River Junction, Vermont,Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Jiang Gui
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Jaimie L. Gradus
- Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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