1
|
Bremner JD, Ortego RA, Campanella C, Nye JA, Davis LL, Fani N, Vaccarino V. Neural correlates of PTSD in women with childhood sexual abuse with and without PTSD and response to paroxetine treatment: A placebo-controlled, double-blind trial. JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS REPORTS 2023; 14:100615. [PMID: 38088987 PMCID: PMC10715797 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Childhood sexual abuse is the leading cause of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women, and is a prominent cause of morbidity and loss of function for which limited treatments are available. Understanding the neurobiology of treatment response is important for developing new treatments. The purpose of this study was to assess neural correlates of personalized traumatic memories in women with childhood sexual abuse with and without PTSD, and to assess response to treatment. Methods Women with childhood sexual abuse with (N = 28) and without (N = 17) PTSD underwent brain imaging with High-Resolution Positron Emission Tomography scanning with radiolabeled water for brain blood flow measurements during exposure to personalized traumatic scripts and memory encoding tasks. Women with PTSD were randomized to paroxetine or placebo followed by three months of double-blind treatment and repeat imaging with the same protocol. Results Women with PTSD showed decreases in areas involved in the Default Mode Network (DMN), a network of brain areas usually active when the brain is at rest, hippocampus and visual processing areas with exposure to traumatic scripts at baseline while women without PTSD showed increased activation in superior frontal gyrus and other areas (p < 0.005). Treatment of women with PTSD with paroxetine resulted in increased anterior cingulate activation and brain areas involved in the DMN and visual processing with scripts compared to placebo (p < 0.005). Conclusion PTSD related to childhood sexual abuse in women is associated with alterations in brain areas involved in memory and the stress response and treatment with paroxetine results in modulation of these areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J. Douglas Bremner
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
- Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, GA
| | - Rebeca Alvarado Ortego
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Carolina Campanella
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Jonathon A. Nye
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Lori L. Davis
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL
- Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, Tuscaloosa AL
| | - Negar Fani
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| | - Viola Vaccarino
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta GA
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology), Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Thome J, Densmore M, Terpou BA, Théberge J, McKinnon MC, Lanius RA. Contrasting Associations Between Heart Rate Variability and Brainstem-Limbic Connectivity in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Its Dissociative Subtype: A Pilot Study. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:862192. [PMID: 35706833 PMCID: PMC9190757 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.862192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Increasing evidence points toward the need to extend the neurobiological conceptualization of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to include evolutionarily conserved neurocircuitries centered on the brainstem and the midbrain. The reticular activating system (RAS) helps to shape the arousal state of the brain, acting as a bridge between brain and body. To modulate arousal, the RAS is closely tied to the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Individuals with PTSD often reveal altered arousal patterns, ranging from hyper- to blunted arousal states, as well as altered functional connectivity profiles of key arousal-related brain structures that receive direct projections from the RAS. Accordingly, the present study aims to explore resting state functional connectivity of the RAS and its interaction with the ANS in participants with PTSD and its dissociative subtype. Methods Individuals with PTSD (n = 57), its dissociative subtype (PTSD + DS, n = 32) and healthy controls (n = 40) underwent a 6-min resting functional magnetic resonance imaging and pulse data recording. Resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) of a central node of the RAS – the pedunculopontine nuclei (PPN) – was investigated along with its relation to ANS functioning as indexed by heart rate variability (HRV). HRV is a prominent marker indexing the flexibility of an organism to react adaptively to environmental needs, with higher HRV representing greater effective adaptation. Results Both PTSD and PTSD + DS demonstrated reduced HRV as compared to controls. HRV measures were then correlated with rsFC of the PPN. Critically, participants with PTSD and participants with PTSD + DS displayed inverse correlations between HRV and rsFC between the PPN and key limbic structures, including the amygdala. Whereas participants with PTSD displayed a positive relationship between HRV and PPN rsFC with the amygdala, participants with PTSD + DS demonstrated a negative relationship between HRV and PPN rsFC with the amygdala. Conclusion The present exploratory investigation reveals contrasting patterns of arousal-related circuitry among participants with PTSD and PTSD + DS, providing a neurobiological lens to interpret hyper- and more blunted arousal states in PTSD and PTSD + DS, respectively.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janine Thome
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Theoretical Neuroscience, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Maria Densmore
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Imaging Division, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Braeden A. Terpou
- Homewood Research Institute, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jean Théberge
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Imaging Division, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Margaret C. McKinnon
- Homewood Research Institute, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Mood Disorders Programs, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Ruth A. Lanius
- Department of Psychiatry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Imaging Division, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
- Homewood Research Institute, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Ruth A. Lanius,
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Comparison of the Cardiovascular Effects of Extreme Psychological and Physical Stress Tests in Male Soccer Players. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19020715. [PMID: 35055538 PMCID: PMC8775892 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19020715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Background: The purpose of our study was to compare the physiological effects of extreme physical and psychological stress tests in male soccer players, since these two types of stress apply to athletes with high performance requirements. Methods: A total of 63 healthy male soccer players participated in this study, all of whom underwent both of the tests. A physical stress test was carried out in an exercise physiology laboratory, where subjects completed an incremental treadmill running test to full exhaustion, and a psychological test was performed in a military tactical room, where subjects met a street offence situation. Heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure (BP) were recorded directly before, immediately after, and 30 min after the stress tests. Results: The majority of HRV indices changed significantly in both stress protocols. Inverse, significant changes (positive for the physical test, negative for the psychological test, p < 0.001) were found when comparing the alterations of HRV indices between the tests. Significant differences were found in the changes in systolic (p = 0.003) and diastolic (p < 0.001) BP between the test protocols, and also between the baseline and post-test measurements (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Both HRV and BP are sensitive physiological parameters to measure the impact of extreme physical and/or psychological stress
Collapse
|
4
|
Chi HM, Hsiao TC. Extended classifier system with continuous real-coded variables for feature extraction of instantaneous pulse-rate variability and respiration of individuals with gaming disorder. Biomed Eng Online 2021; 20:93. [PMID: 34556149 PMCID: PMC8461950 DOI: 10.1186/s12938-021-00930-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Individuals with gaming disorder (GD) exhibit autonomic nervous system responses that indicate dysfunctional emotion regulation. Pulse rate variability (PRV) is a valuable biomarker for investigating the autonomic function of patients with mental disorders. Because individuals with GD dynamically regulate emotions during gaming, the PRV response relating to GD is not well understood. To investigate the dynamic PRV responses of individuals with GD, this study proposed the indexes of instantaneous PRV (iPRV) and instantaneous respiratory frequency (IFresp) of arterial blood pressure signals using empirical mode decomposition and normalized direct-quadrature algorithms. iPRV consists of low-frequency (LF), high-frequency (HF), and very high-frequency (VHF) bands. Moreover, a novel method of extended classifier system with continuous real-coded variables (XCSR) was used to detect GD and extract GD-related iPRV features using iPRV and IFresp as input data. Results A total of 32 college students without depressive and anxiety symptoms or cardiovascular diseases were recruited in this study. Participants were grouped into the high-risk GD and low-risk GD using both Chen Internet Addiction Scale and Internet Gaming Disorder Questionnaire. Their arterial blood pressures signals were measured while they watched gameplay videos with negative or positive emotional stimuli. Seven participants with high-risk GD exhibited significantly increased normalized VHF (nVHF) PRV and IFresp readings and significantly decreased normalized LF (nLF) PRV readings and LF/HF PRV ratios (from baseline) during negative or positive gameplay videos stimuli. These participants also exhibited higher nVHF PRV and lower nLF PRV readings and LF/HF PRV ratios when they experienced negative gameplay video stimuli relative to 17 participants with low-risk GD. The classification accuracy of the XCSR reached 90% for both negative and positive video stimuli, and nVHF PRV was most frequently used to detect GD risk. Conclusions iPRV and IFresp can be used to detect GD and analyze the autonomic mechanism of individuals with GD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Ming Chi
- Department of Computer Science, College of Computer Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tzu-Chien Hsiao
- Department of Computer Science, College of Computer Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC. .,Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sambuco N, Bradley MM, Lang PJ. Trauma-related dysfunction in the fronto-striatal reward circuit. J Affect Disord 2021; 287:359-366. [PMID: 33827011 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.03.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Reduced reactivity to pleasurable stimulation is a defining symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but trauma exposure also increases the severity of many anxiety and mood disorders, including depression, social anxiety, and panic disorder, suggesting that reward system dysfunction might be pervasive in the internalizing disorders. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and ventral striatum are core components of the reward circuit and the current study assesses functional activity and connectivity in this circuit during emotional picture viewing in anxiety and mood disorder patients. METHOD Functional brain activity (fMRI) and functional connectivity in the fronto-striatal circuit were measured in a large sample of patients diagnosed with anxiety and mood disorders (n=155) during affective scene viewing as it varied with trauma exposure and temperament. RESULTS In women, but not men, blunted fronto-striatal connectivity was associated with increased posttraumatic anhedonic symptoms, whereas the amplitude of functional activity was not related to trauma exposure. In both men and women, reduced fronto-striatal connectivity was associated with decreases in temperamental positive affect. When predicting fronto-striatal connectivity, temperament and posttraumatic symptomology accounted for independent proportions of variance. LIMITATIONS In this civilian sample of anxiety disorder patients, men reported very little trauma-related symptomology. CONCLUSIONS Because dysfunctional reward processing due to trauma and temperament is pervasive across the internalizing disorder spectrum, assessing the integrity of the fronto-striatal reward circuit could provide important information in diagnostic and treatment protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Sambuco
- Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
| | - Margaret M Bradley
- Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Peter J Lang
- Center for the Study of Emotion and Attention, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Rockstroh BS, McTeague LM. Psychophysiological approaches to understanding the impact of trauma exposure. Psychophysiology 2020; 57:e13497. [PMID: 31833088 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.13497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Lisa M McTeague
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang W, Zhornitsky S, Le TM, Zhang S, Li CSR. Heart Rate Variability, Cue-Evoked Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortical Response, and Problem Alcohol Use in Adult Drinkers. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2020; 5:619-628. [PMID: 32061544 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2019.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many studies employed cue exposure paradigms to investigate the neural processes underlying cue-elicited alcohol craving. Cue exposure elicits robust autonomic reactivity. However, whether or how cue-elicited autonomic response relates to the severity of alcohol misuse and the neural bases underlying the potential relationship remain unclear. METHODS We examined cue-related brain activations in association with heart rate variability, as indexed by the root mean square of the successive differences (RMSSD), during alcohol versus neutral cue blocks in 50 adult alcohol drinkers (24 men). Imaging and heart rate variability data were collected and processed with published routines. Mediation analyses were conducted to examine the interrelationship between regional activities, cue-elicited changes in RMSSD, and the severity of problem alcohol use, as assessed with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). RESULTS The results showed higher RMSSD during alcohol than during neutral cue exposures, with alcohol (vs. neutral) cue-evoked RMSSD positively correlated with AUDIT score. Further, alcohol (vs. neutral) cue-elicited activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex was negatively correlated both with increases in RMSSD and with the AUDIT score. Mediation analyses suggested that the RMSSD mediated the relationship between ventromedial prefrontal cortex cue activity and the AUDIT score. CONCLUSIONS These findings substantiate the neural correlates of the presumably parasympathetic response during alcohol cue exposure and the interrelationship among ventromedial prefrontal cortex activity, autonomic response, and problem alcohol use.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wuyi Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Simon Zhornitsky
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Thang M Le
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Chiang-Shan R Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Department of Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wilcox CE, Adinoff B, Clifford J, Ling J, Witkiewitz K, Mayer AR, Boggs KM, Eck M, Bogenschutz M. Brain activation and subjective anxiety during an anticipatory anxiety task is related to clinical outcome during prazosin treatment for alcohol use disorder. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2020; 26:102162. [PMID: 32037283 PMCID: PMC7229347 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2020.102162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Higher levels of anxiety, negative affect, and impaired emotion regulation are associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and contribute to relapse and worse treatment outcomes. Prazosin, while typically used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety disorders, has shown promise for treating AUD. In order to better understand these underlying neural processes in individuals with AUD, our aims in this study were to measure brain activation during an anticipatory anxiety task before treatment to determine whether observed patterns supported previous work. We then aimed to measure the effects of prazosin on patients with AUD and explore whether greater baseline anticipatory anxiety (as measured by subjective and neural measures) predicts better treatment outcomes. METHODS Thirty-four individuals seeking treatment for AUD participated in a six-week placebo-controlled study of prazosin and underwent an anticipatory anxiety task during fMRI scans at baseline and three weeks. Alcohol use over six weeks was measured. RESULTS Greater levels of subjective anxiety and deactivation in posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) were observed during high-threat stimuli compared to low-threat stimuli. Compared to placebo, prazosin reduced subjective anxiety to high-threat stimuli but there were no observed significant effects of prazosin on brain activation during the task. However, AUD patients with greater vmPFC deactivation during high threat relative to low threat and patients with low baseline anticipatory anxiety during the task had worse clinical outcomes on prazosin. CONCLUSIONS Deactivation in PCC and vmPFC to high-threat stimuli replicated previous work and shows promise for further study as a marker for AUD. Although prazosin did not affect brain activation in the regions of interest during the anticipatory anxiety task, subjective levels of anxiety and brain activation in vmPFC predicted treatment outcomes in individuals with AUD undergoing treatment with prazosin, highlighting individuals more likely to benefit from prazosin than others.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire E Wilcox
- Mind Research Network, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA.
| | - Bryon Adinoff
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390, USA; VA North Texas Health Care System, 4500 S Lancaster Rd, Dallas, TX 75216, USA; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, 13001 E 17th Place, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Joshua Clifford
- Department of Psychiatry, University of New Mexico, 2400 Tucker NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA
| | - Josef Ling
- Mind Research Network, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA
| | - Katie Witkiewitz
- Department of Psychology, Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse & Addictions, University of New Mexico, 2650 Yale Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA
| | - Andrew R Mayer
- Mind Research Network, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA
| | - Kylar M Boggs
- Mind Research Network, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA
| | - Matthew Eck
- Mind Research Network, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA; University of Southern California, USA
| | - Michael Bogenschutz
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
An E, Nolty AAT, Amano SS, Rizzo AA, Buckwalter JG, Rensberger J. Heart Rate Variability as an Index of Resilience. Mil Med 2019; 185:363-369. [DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usz325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Resilience is the ability to maintain or quickly return to a stable physical and psychological equilibrium despite experiencing stressful events. Flexibility of the autonomic nervous system is particularly important for adaptive stress responses and may contribute to individual differences in resilience. Power spectrum analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) allows measurement of sympathovagal balance, which helps to evaluate autonomic flexibility. The present study investigated HRV as a broad index of resilience.
Materials and Methods
Twenty-four male participants from the Army National Guard Special Forces completed psychological measures known to relate to resilience and had HRV measured while undergoing stressful virtual environment scenarios. Pearson product-moment correlations were used to explore the relationships between HRV and resilience factors. All research was conducted with the oversight of the Human Subjects Review Committee of Fuller Theological Seminary.
Results
Trends toward significance were reported in order to provide results that would reasonably be expected in a study of higher power. Trends between resilience factors and HRV were found only during specific stress-inducing simulations (see Tables III).
Conclusion
Greater resilience to stress was associated with HRV during nonstress periods. Higher levels of resilience to traumatic events were associated with HRV during circumstances that were more stressful and emotionally distressing. Post hoc analysis revealed that specific factors including flexibility, emotional control, and spirituality were driving the relationship between general resilience and HRV following emotionally laden stressors. Less stress vulnerability was associated with HRV following intermittent brief stressors. In sum, HRV appears to represent some aspects of an individual’s overall resilience profile. Although resilience remains a complex, multidimensional construct, HRV shows promise as a global psychophysiological index of resilience. This study also offers important perspectives concerning ways to optimize both physical and psychological health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric An
- Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, 135 N Oakland Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
| | - Anne A T Nolty
- Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, 135 N Oakland Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
- Headington Institute, 402 S Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
| | - Stacy S Amano
- Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, 135 N Oakland Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
| | - Albert A Rizzo
- Institute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, 12015 E Waterfront Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90094
| | - J Galen Buckwalter
- Headington Institute, 402 S Marengo Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
- Institute for Creative Technologies, University of Southern California, 12015 E Waterfront Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90094
| | - Jared Rensberger
- Graduate School of Psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary, 135 N Oakland Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Elevated perceived threat is associated with reduced hippocampal volume in combat veterans. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14888. [PMID: 31624305 PMCID: PMC6797706 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51533-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Reduced hippocampal volume is frequently observed in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the psychological processes associated with these alterations remain unclear. Given hippocampal involvement in memory and contextual representations of threat, we investigated relationships between retrospectively reported combat exposure, perceived threat, and hippocampal volume in trauma-exposed veterans. T1-weighted anatomical MRI scans were obtained from 56 veterans (4 women, 52 men; 39 with elevated PTSD symptoms, “PTSS” group) and hippocampal volume was estimated using automatic segmentation tools in FreeSurfer. Hippocampal volume was regressed on self-reported perceived threat from the Deployment Risk and Resilience Inventory, and combat exposure from the Combat Exposure Scale. As a secondary analysis, hippocampal volume was regressed on Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) symptoms. In veterans with elevated PTSD symptoms, hippocampal volume was inversely related to perceived threat while deployed while controlling for self-reported combat exposure. Hippocampal volume was also inversely correlated with avoidance/numbing CAPS symptoms. Future research should clarify the temporal milieu of these effects and investigate whether individual differences in hippocampal structure and function contribute to heightened threat appraisal at the time of trauma vs. subsequently elevated appraisals of traumatic events.
Collapse
|