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Borst B, Jovanovic T, House SL, Bruce SE, Harnett NG, Roeckner AR, Ely TD, Lebois LAM, Young D, Beaudoin FL, An X, Neylan TC, Clifford GD, Linnstaedt SD, Germine LT, Bollen KA, Rauch SL, Haran JP, Storrow AB, Lewandowski C, Musey PI, Hendry PL, Sheikh S, Jones CW, Punches BE, Hudak LA, Pascual JL, Seamon MJ, Datner EM, Pearson C, Peak DA, Domeier RM, Rathlev NK, O'Neil BJ, Sergot P, Sanchez LD, Harte SE, Koenen KC, Kessler RC, McLean SA, Ressler KJ, Stevens JS, van Rooij SJH. Sex Differences in Response Inhibition-Related Neural Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Civilians With Recent Trauma. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2024; 9:668-680. [PMID: 38522649 PMCID: PMC11227397 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2024.03.002] [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] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Females are more likely to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than males. Impaired inhibition has been identified as a mechanism for PTSD development, but studies on potential sex differences in this neurobiological mechanism and how it relates to PTSD severity and progression are relatively rare. Here, we examined sex differences in neural activation during response inhibition and PTSD following recent trauma. METHODS Participants (n = 205, 138 female sex assigned at birth) were recruited from emergency departments within 72 hours of a traumatic event. PTSD symptoms were assessed 2 weeks and 6 months posttrauma. A Go/NoGo task was performed 2 weeks posttrauma in a 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner to measure neural activity during response inhibition in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, right inferior frontal gyrus, and bilateral hippocampus. General linear models were used to examine the interaction effect of sex on the relationship between our regions of interest and the whole brain, PTSD symptoms at 6 months, and symptom progression between 2 weeks and 6 months. RESULTS Lower response inhibition-related ventromedial prefrontal cortex activation 2 weeks posttrauma predicted more PTSD symptoms at 6 months in females but not in males, while greater response inhibition-related right inferior frontal gyrus activation predicted lower PTSD symptom progression in males but not females. Whole-brain interaction effects were observed in the medial temporal gyrus and left precentral gyrus. CONCLUSIONS There are sex differences in the relationship between inhibition-related brain activation and PTSD symptom severity and progression. These findings suggest that sex differences should be assessed in future PTSD studies and reveal potential targets for sex-specific interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bibian Borst
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Stacey L House
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Steven E Bruce
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Nathaniel G Harnett
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Alyssa R Roeckner
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Timothy D Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Lauren A M Lebois
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dmitri Young
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Francesca L Beaudoin
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Rehabilitation International, Providence, Rhode Island; Department of Emergency Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Xinming An
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Thomas C Neylan
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Gari D Clifford
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sarah D Linnstaedt
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Laura T Germine
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Many Brains Project, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Kenneth A Bollen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience & Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Scott L Rauch
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - John P Haran
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Alan B Storrow
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | | | - Paul I Musey
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Phyllis L Hendry
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida
| | - Sophia Sheikh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida
| | - Christopher W Jones
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey
| | - Brittany E Punches
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio; Ohio State University College of Nursing, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Lauren A Hudak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jose L Pascual
- Department of Surgery, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Mark J Seamon
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Surgery, Division of Traumatology, Surgical Critical Care and Emergency Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Elizabeth M Datner
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Jefferson Einstein Hospital, Jefferson Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Emergency Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Claire Pearson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Ascension St. John Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
| | - David A Peak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Robert M Domeier
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Trinity Health, Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Michigan
| | - Niels K Rathlev
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate, Springfield, Massachusetts
| | - Brian J O'Neil
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Paulina Sergot
- Department of Emergency Medicine, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, Houston, Texas
| | - Leon D Sanchez
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Steven E Harte
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Internal Medicine-Rheumatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Karestan C Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ronald C Kessler
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Samuel A McLean
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Institute for Trauma Recovery, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
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Sun Z, Song J, Chen J, Gan X, Li Y, Qiu C, Zhang W, Gao Y. Preventing and Mitigating Post-Traumatic Stress: A Scoping Review of Resilience Interventions for Military Personnel in Pre Deployment. Psychol Res Behav Manag 2024; 17:2377-2389. [PMID: 38912160 PMCID: PMC11192150 DOI: 10.2147/prbm.s459220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Resilience is considered as a protective factor that can assist individuals to reduce post-traumatic stress reactions. In recent years, armies in many countries have widely implemented resilience training programs before deployment to prevent or reduce post-deployment combat stress reactions. Therefore, this study aims to review what is known about resilience interventions for military personnel in pre deployment. Methods Based on Arskey and O'Malley's framework, a scoping review was completed. This review was performed through searching databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Medline and the Cochrane Library, and screening literature to extract data, finally summarizing the findings. Results A total of 25 studies focusing on resilience interventions for military personnel in pre deployment were involved and analyzed using intervention approaches, outcome measures, intervention effects, and so on. Conclusion Based on the existing evidence in this review, it is cautiously believed that the resilience intervention program for military personnel before deployment is effective. However, there is no single effective best method even the same type intervention can make different effects in different situations and populations. Therefore, the population differences and context should be fully considered in constructing and implementing program to build military personnel resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanying Sun
- Graduate School, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China
- Nursing Department, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie Song
- Nursing Department, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jingru Chen
- Graduate School, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xueyang Gan
- Graduate School, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Orthopedics, the Forth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chen Qiu
- Nursing Department, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weili Zhang
- Graduate School, Chinese PLA Medical School, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Nursing Department, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, People’s Republic of China
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van Rooij SJH, Powers A. Maternal Stress and Vulnerability in Offspring: Hippocampal Mechanisms of Resilience. Biol Psychiatry 2024; 95:3-5. [PMID: 38030307 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | - Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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Chang J, Song D, Yu R. The double-edged sword of the hippocampus-ventromedial prefrontal cortex resting-state connectivity in stress susceptibility and resilience: A prospective study. Neurobiol Stress 2023; 27:100584. [PMID: 37965440 PMCID: PMC10641247 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2023.100584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus has long been considered a pivotal region implicated in both stress susceptibility and resilience. A wealth of evidence from animal and human studies underscores the significance of hippocampal functional connectivity with the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) in these stress-related processes. However, there remains a scarcity of research that explores and contrasts the roles of hippocampus-vmPFC connectivity in stress susceptibility and resilience when facing a real-life traumatic event from a prospective standpoint. In the present study, we investigated the contributions of undirected and directed connectivity between the hippocampus and vmPFC to stress susceptibility and resilience within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings revealed that the left hippocampus-left vmPFC connectivity prior to the pandemic exhibited a negative correlation with both stress susceptibility and resilience. Specifically, individuals with stronger left hippocampus-left vmPFC connectivity reported experiencing fewer stress-related feelings during the outbreak period of the epidemic but displayed lower levels of stress resilience five months later. Our application of spectral dynamic causal modeling unveiled an additional inhibitory connectivity pathway from the left hippocampus to the left vmPFC in the context of stress susceptibility, which was notably absent in stress resilience. Furthermore, we observed a noteworthy positive association between self-inhibition of the vmPFC and stress susceptibility, with this effect proving substantial enough to predict an individual's susceptibility to stress; conversely, these patterns did not manifest in the realm of stress resilience. These findings enrich our comprehension of stress susceptibility and stress resilience and might have implications for innovative approaches to managing stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Chang
- Institute of Psychology, School of Public Policy, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Di Song
- Department of Management, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Rongjun Yu
- Department of Management, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
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5
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Wang C, Zhu L, Zheng W, Peng H, Wang J, Cui Y, Liu B, Jiang T. Effects of childhood trauma on aggressive behaviors and hippocampal function: the modulation of COMT haplotypes. PSYCHORADIOLOGY 2023; 3:kkad013. [PMID: 38666110 PMCID: PMC11003423 DOI: 10.1093/psyrad/kkad013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Background Aggression is a commonly hostile behavior linked to the hippocampal activity. Childhood trauma (CT) exposure has been associated with altered sensitization of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and hippocampal volume,which could increase violent aggressive behaviors. Additionally, Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), the major dopamine metabolism enzyme, is implicated in stress responsivity, including aggression. Hence, CT exposure may affect aggression through the effect on the hippocampal function, which might also be modulated by the COMT variations. Objectives This study examined whether both CT and haplotypes of COMT moderate hippocampal function and thus affect human aggressive behavior. Methods We obtained bilateral hippocampal functional connectivity maps using resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data. COMT haplotype estimation was performed using Haploview 4.2 and PHASE 2.1. Then we constructed a moderated mediation model to study the effect of the CTQ × COMT on aggressive behavior. Results Three major haplotypes were generated from thirteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the COMT gene and formed three haplotypes corresponding to high, medium, and low enzymatic activity of COMT. The results showed interactive relationships between the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and COMT with respect to the functional connectivity (FC) of the bilateral hippocampus (HIP)-orbital frontal cortex (OFC). Specifically, CT experience predicted lower negative HIP-OFC coupling in the APS and HPS haplotypes corresponding to the medium and high enzymatic activity of COMT, but greater FC in the LPS haplotypes corresponding to the low enzymatic activity. We also observed a conditional mediation effect of the right HIP-OFC coupling in the link between COMT and aggressive behavior that was moderated by CT experience. Conclusions These results suggest that CT and COMT have a combined effect on aggressive behavior through hippocampal function. This mediation analysis sheds light on the influence of childhood experience on aggressive behavior in different genetic backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Wang
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Linfei Zhu
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Wenyu Zheng
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Hanyuzhu Peng
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Jiaojian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yue Cui
- Brainnetome Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Bing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Tianzi Jiang
- Brainnetome Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- National Laboratory of Pattern Recognition, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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6
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Tai APL, Leung MK, Geng X, Lau WKW. Conceptualizing psychological resilience through resting-state functional MRI in a mentally healthy population: a systematic review. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1175064. [PMID: 37538200 PMCID: PMC10394620 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1175064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Conceptualizations and operational definitions of psychological resilience vary across resilience neuroimaging studies. Data on the neural features of resilience among healthy individuals has been scarce. Furthermore, findings from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies were inconsistent across studies. This systematic review summarized resting-state fMRI findings in different modalities from various operationally defined resilience in a mentally healthy population. The PubMed and MEDLINE databases were searched. Articles that focused on resting-state fMRI in relation to resilience, and published before 2022, were targeted. Orbitofrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, insula and amygdala, were reported the most from the 19 included studies. Regions in emotional network was reported the most from the included studies. The involvement of regions like amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex indicated the relationships between emotional processing and resilience. No common brain regions or neural pathways were identified across studies. The emotional network appears to be studied the most in association with resilience. Matching fMRI modalities and operational definitions of resilience across studies are essential for meta-analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan P. L. Tai
- Department of Special Education and Counselling, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Integrated Centre for Wellbeing, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Bioanalytical Laboratory for Educational Sciences, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mei-Kei Leung
- Department of Counselling and Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xiujuan Geng
- Brain and Mind Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Way K. W. Lau
- Department of Health Sciences, The Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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7
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Tanriverdi B, Gregory DF, Olino TM, Ely TD, Harnett NG, van Rooij SJH, Lebois LAM, Seligowski AV, Jovanovic T, Ressler KJ, House SL, Beaudoin FL, An X, Neylan TC, Clifford GD, Linnstaedt SD, Germine LT, Bollen KA, Rauch SL, Haran JP, Storrow AB, Lewandowski C, Musey PI, Hendry PL, Sheikh S, Jones CW, Punches BE, Kurz MC, McGrath ME, Hudak LA, Pascual JL, Seamon MJ, Datner EM, Pearson C, Domeier RM, Rathlev NK, O'Neil BJ, Sanchez LD, Bruce SE, Miller MW, Pietrzak RH, Joormann J, Barch DM, Pizzagalli DA, Sheridan JF, Smoller JW, Harte SE, Elliott JM, McLean SA, Kessler RC, Koenen KC, Stevens JS, Murty VP. Hippocampal Threat Reactivity Interacts with Physiological Arousal to Predict PTSD Symptoms. J Neurosci 2022; 42:6593-6604. [PMID: 35879096 PMCID: PMC9410748 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0911-21.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hippo campal impairments are reliably associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, little research has characterized how increased threat sensitivity may interact with arousal responses to alter hippocampal reactivity, and further how these interactions relate to the sequelae of trauma-related symptoms. In a sample of individuals recently exposed to trauma (N = 116, 76 female), we found that PTSD symptoms at 2 weeks were associated with decreased hippocampal responses to threat as assessed with fMRI. Further, the relationship between hippocampal threat sensitivity and PTSD symptomology only emerged in individuals who showed transient, high threat-related arousal, as assayed by an independently collected measure of fear potentiated startle. Collectively, our finding suggests that development of PTSD is associated with threat-related decreases in hippocampal function because of increases in fear-potentiated arousal.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Alterations in hippocampal function linked to threat-related arousal are reliably associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, how these alterations relate to the sequelae of trauma-related symptoms is unknown. Prior models based on nontrauma samples suggest that arousal may impact hippocampal neurophysiology leading to maladaptive behavior. Here we show that decreased hippocampal threat sensitivity interacts with fear-potentiated startle to predict PTSD symptoms. Specifically, individuals with high fear-potentiated startle and low, transient hippocampal threat sensitivity showed the greatest PTSD symptomology. These findings bridge literatures of threat-related arousal and hippocampal function to better understand PTSD risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Büşra Tanriverdi
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19121
| | - David F Gregory
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19121
| | - Thomas M Olino
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19121
| | - Timothy D Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Nathaniel G Harnett
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts 02478
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Lauren A M Lebois
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts 02478
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Antonia V Seligowski
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts 02478
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts 02478
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Stacey L House
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Francesca L Beaudoin
- Department of Emergency Medicine & Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital, and Miriam Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 02930
| | - Xinming An
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27559
| | - Thomas C Neylan
- Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Gari D Clifford
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
| | - Sarah D Linnstaedt
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27559
| | - Laura T Germine
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Institute for Technology in Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts 02478
| | - Kenneth A Bollen
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience & Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27559
| | - Scott L Rauch
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Institute for Technology in Psychiatry/Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts 02478
| | - John P Haran
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01655
| | - Alan B Storrow
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232
| | | | - Paul I Musey
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202
| | - Phyllis L Hendry
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida 32209
| | - Sophia Sheikh
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida 32209
| | - Christopher W Jones
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, New Jersey 08103
| | - Brittany E Punches
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267
- College of Nursing, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio 45221
| | - Michael C Kurz
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
- Department of Surgery, Division of Acute Care Surgery, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
- Center for Injury Science, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Meghan E McGrath
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Lauren A Hudak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Jose L Pascual
- Department of Surgery, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Mark J Seamon
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
- Department of Surgery, Division of Traumatology, Surgical Critical Care and Emergency Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Elizabeth M Datner
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Einstein Healthcare Network, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19141
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
| | - Claire Pearson
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202
| | - Robert M Domeier
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ypsilanti, Michigan 48197
| | - Niels K Rathlev
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate, Springfield, Massachusetts 01107
| | - Brian J O'Neil
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202
| | - Leon D Sanchez
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02215
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Steven E Bruce
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63121
| | - Mark W Miller
- National Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts 02130
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Robert H Pietrzak
- National Center for PTSD, Clinical Neurosciences Division, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut 06516
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, West Haven, Connecticut 06510
| | - Jutta Joormann
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, West Haven, Connecticut 06520
| | - Deanna M Barch
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130
| | - Diego A Pizzagalli
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts 02478
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - John F Sheridan
- Department of Biosciences, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43210
- Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio 43211
| | - Jordan W Smoller
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142
| | - Steven E Harte
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
- Department of Internal Medicine-Rheumatology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - James M Elliott
- Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney, St Leonards, New South Wales 2065, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- Physical Therapy & Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois 60208
| | - Samuel A McLean
- Institute for Trauma Recovery, Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27559
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27559
| | - Ronald C Kessler
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Karestan C Koenen
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Vishnu P Murty
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19121
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8
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Xavier J, Bastos CR, Camerini L, Amaral PB, Jansen K, de Mattos Souza LD, da Silva RA, Pinheiro RT, Lara DR, Ghisleni G. Interaction between COMT Val 158 Met polymorphism and childhood trauma predicts risk for depression in men. Int J Dev Neurosci 2022; 82:385-396. [PMID: 35441426 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10186] [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] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is a disabling illness with complex etiology. While the Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT) gene, in particular the functional Val158 Met polymorphism, has been related to depression, the mechanisms underlying this gene-disease association are not completely understood. Therefore, we explore the association of COMT Val158 Met polymorphism with depression as well as its interaction with childhood trauma in 1,136 young adults from a population-based study carried out in the city of Pelotas-Brazil. The diagnosis was performed through the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview 5.0 (MINI 5.0), and trauma was assessed with the childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ). Total DNA was extracted and genotyped by real-time PCR and the QTLbase dataset was queried to perform large-scale quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. Our research showed no direct association between the Val158 Met polymorphism and the diagnosis of depression (women: χ2=0.10, d=1, p=0.751 and men: χ2=0.003, df=1 p=0.956). However, the Met-allele of the Val158 Met polymorphism modified the effect of childhood trauma in men [OR=2.58 (95% CI:1.05-6.29); p=0.038] conferring risk for depression only on those who suffer from trauma. The conditional effect from moderation analysis showed that trauma impacts the risk of depression only in men carrying the Met-allele (Effect: 0.9490, Standard Error (SE): 0.2570; p=0.0002). QTLbase and dataset for Val158 Met polymorphism were consistent for markers that influence chromatin accessibility transcription capacity including histone methylation and acetylation. The changes caused in gene regulation by childhood trauma exposure and polymorphism may serve as evidence of the mechanism whereby the interaction increases susceptibility to this disorder in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janaína Xavier
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Clarissa Ribeiro Bastos
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Laísa Camerini
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Paola Bajadares Amaral
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Karen Jansen
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Luciano Dias de Mattos Souza
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Azevedo da Silva
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Tavares Pinheiro
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Diogo Rizzato Lara
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Gabriele Ghisleni
- Center of Health Sciences, Post-Graduation Program of Health and Behavior, Catholic University of Pelotas, Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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9
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Powers A, Hinojosa CA, Stevens JS, Harvey B, Pas P, Rothbaum BO, Ressler KJ, Jovanovic T, van Rooij SJH. Right inferior frontal gyrus and ventromedial prefrontal activation during response inhibition is implicated in the development of PTSD symptoms. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2022; 13:2059993. [PMID: 35432781 PMCID: PMC9009908 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2022.2059993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Inhibition is a critical executive control process and an established neurobiological phenotype of PTSD, yet to our knowledge, no prospective studies have examined this using a contextual cue task that enables measurement of behavioural response and neural activation patterns across proactive and reactive inhibition. Objective The current longitudinal study utilised functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine whether deficits in proactive and reactive inhibition predicted PTSD symptoms six months after trauma. Method Twenty-three (65% males) medical patients receiving emergency medical care from a level 1 trauma centre were enrolled in the study and invited for an MRI scan 1-2-months post-trauma. PTSD symptoms were measured using self-report at scan and 6-months post-trauma. A stop-signal anticipation task (SSAT) during an fMRI scan was used to test whether impaired behavioural proactive and reactive inhibition, and reduced activation in right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG), ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), and bilateral hippocampus, were related to PTSD symptoms. We predicted that lower activation levels of vmPFC and rIFG during reactive inhibition and lower activation of hippocampus and rIFG during proactive inhibition would relate to higher 6-month PTSD symptoms. Results No significant associations were found between behavioural measures and 6-month PTSD. Separate linear regression analyses showed that reduced rIFG activation (F1,21 = 9.97, R2 = .32, p = .005) and reduced vmPFC activation (F1,21 = 5.19, R2 = .20, p = .03) significantly predicted greater 6-month PTSD symptoms; this result held for rIFG activation controlling for demographic variables and baseline PTSD symptoms (β = -.45, p = .04) and Bonferroni correction. Conclusion Our findings suggest that impaired rIFG and, to a lesser extent, vmPFC activation during response inhibition may predict the development of PTSD symptoms following acute trauma exposure. Given the small sample size, future replication studies are needed. HIGHLIGHTS Impaired inhibition may be an important risk factor for the development of PTSD following trauma, with less right inferior frontal gyrus and ventromedial prefrontal cortex activation during response inhibition predicting PTSD development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Jesse Hill Jr Drive, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cecilia A Hinojosa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Jesse Hill Jr Drive, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Jesse Hill Jr Drive, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brandon Harvey
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Pascal Pas
- Experimental Psychology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Barbara O Rothbaum
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Jesse Hill Jr Drive, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Jesse Hill Jr Drive, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 69 Jesse Hill Jr Drive, Atlanta, GA, USA
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10
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Ryan M, Ryznar R. The Molecular Basis of Resilience: A Narrative Review. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:856998. [PMID: 35599764 PMCID: PMC9120427 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.856998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Resilience refers to the adaptability of a person - an ability to "bounce-back" from stressors. We question if resilience can be strengthened, potentially to decrease the risk of stress-related disorders. Unfortunately, the molecular origins of resilience are complicated and not yet well understood. In this review, we examine the various physiological biomarkers of resilience, including the associated genes, epigenetic changes, and protein biomarkers associated with resilient phenotypes. In addition to assessing biomarkers that may indicate higher levels of resilience, we also review at length the many biomarkers that confer lower levels of resilience and may lead to disorders of low resilience, such as anxiety and depression. This large and encompassing review may help to identify the possible therapeutic targets of resilience. Hopefully these studies will lead to a future where stress-related disorders can be prevented, rather than treated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Ryan
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Rocky Vista University, Parker, CO, United States
| | - Rebecca Ryznar
- Molecular Biology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Rocky Vista University, Parker, CO, United States
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11
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Cahill S, Chandola T, Hager R. Genetic Variants Associated With Resilience in Human and Animal Studies. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:840120. [PMID: 35669264 PMCID: PMC9163442 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.840120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Resilience is broadly defined as the ability to maintain or regain functioning in the face of adversity and is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. The identification of specific genetic factors and their biological pathways underpinning resilient functioning can help in the identification of common key factors, but heterogeneities in the operationalisation of resilience have hampered advances. We conducted a systematic review of genetic variants associated with resilience to enable the identification of general resilience mechanisms. We adopted broad inclusion criteria for the definition of resilience to capture both human and animal model studies, which use a wide range of resilience definitions and measure very different outcomes. Analyzing 158 studies, we found 71 candidate genes associated with resilience. OPRM1 (Opioid receptor mu 1), NPY (neuropeptide Y), CACNA1C (calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 C), DCC (deleted in colorectal carcinoma), and FKBP5 (FKBP prolyl isomerase 5) had both animal and human variants associated with resilience, supporting the idea of shared biological pathways. Further, for OPRM1, OXTR (oxytocin receptor), CRHR1 (corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 1), COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase), BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), APOE (apolipoprotein E), and SLC6A4 (solute carrier family 6 member 4), the same allele was associated with resilience across divergent resilience definitions, which suggests these genes may therefore provide a starting point for further research examining commonality in resilience pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Cahill
- Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Faculty of Humanities, Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Tarani Chandola
- Faculty of Humanities, Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.,Methods Hub, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Reinmar Hager
- Evolution, Infection and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
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12
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Pfeiffer JR, van Rooij SJH, Mekawi Y, Fani N, Jovanovic T, Michopoulos V, Smith AK, Stevens JS, Uddin M. Blood-derived deoxyribonucleic acid methylation clusters associate with adverse social exposures and endophenotypes of stress-related psychiatric illness in a trauma-exposed cohort of women. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:892302. [PMID: 36405926 PMCID: PMC9668877 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.892302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse social exposures (ASEs) such as low income, low educational attainment, and childhood/adult trauma exposure are associated with variability in brain region measurements of gray matter volume (GMV), surface area (SA), and cortical thickness (CT). These CNS morphometries are associated with stress-related psychiatric illnesses and represent endophenotypes of stress-related psychiatric illness development. Epigenetic mechanisms, such as 5-methyl-cytosine (5mC), may contribute to the biological embedding of the environment but are understudied and not well understood. How 5mC relates to CNS endophenotypes of psychiatric illness is also unclear. In 97 female, African American, trauma-exposed participants from the Grady Trauma Project, we examined the associations of childhood trauma burden (CTQ), adult trauma burden, low income, and low education with blood-derived 5mC clusters and variability in brain region measurements in the amygdala, hippocampus, and frontal cortex subregions. To elucidate whether peripheral 5mC indexes central nervous system (CNS) endophenotypes of psychiatric illness, we tested whether 73 brain/blood correlated 5mC clusters, defined by networks of correlated 5mC probes measured on Illumina's HumanMethylation Epic Beadchip, mediated the relationship between ASEs and brain measurements. CTQ was negatively associated with rostral middle frontal gyrus (RMFG) SA (β =-0.231, p = 0.041). Low income and low education were also associated with SA or CT in a number of brain regions. Seven 5mC clusters were associated with CTQ (pmin = 0.002), two with low education (pmin = 0.010), and three with low income (pmin = 0.007). Two clusters fully mediated the relation between CTQ and RMFG SA, accounting for 47 and 35% of variability, respectively. These clusters were enriched for probes falling in DNA regulatory regions, as well as signal transduction and immune signaling gene ontology functions. Methylome-network analyses showed enrichment of macrophage migration (p = 9 × 10-8), T cell receptor complex (p = 6 × 10-6), and chemokine-mediated signaling (p = 7 × 10-4) pathway enrichment in association with CTQ. Our results support prior work highlighting brain region variability associated with ASEs, while informing a peripheral inflammation-based epigenetic mechanism of biological embedding of such exposures. These findings could also serve to potentiate increased investigation of understudied populations at elevated risk for stress-related psychiatric illness development.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Pfeiffer
- Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Yara Mekawi
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
| | - Negar Fani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Vasiliki Michopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Alicia K Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Monica Uddin
- Genomics Program, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
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13
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Chen S, Cai W, Duan S, Gao L, Yang W, Gao Y, Jia C, Zhang H, Li L. Association of COMT Polymorphisms with Multiple Physical Activity-Related Injuries among University Students in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182010828. [PMID: 34682575 PMCID: PMC8535648 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) is a candidate gene to provide promising evidence of psychiatric disorders, but there is a knowledge gap between the genetic factor and multiple physical activity-related injuries (PARIs). The aim of this study was to explore the contribution of COMT to the risk of PARIs among university students in the Chinese Han population. We can further search for the intrinsic risk factors for the occurrence of multiple physical activity injuries and provide a scientific basis for early screening and precise intervention for the high-risk group of college students with multiple PARIs. A 1:1 matched case-control study of 61 PARIs cases and 61 healthy controls were carried out. DNA samples of the participants were isolated from saliva and genotyped on eight SNPs of the COMT gene (rs9265, rs4680, rs6269, rs4818, rs4633, rs165655, rs165656, and rs165722) using the MALDI-TOF MS method. We found that rs6269 and rs4818 were significantly associated with PARIs, and rs6269-GG and rs4818-GG contributed to the reduced risk of PARIs. Further haplotype analysis showed a four-marker C-G-C-G haplotype (rs165722-rs6269-rs4633-rs4818) acted with a protective role in the development of PARIs (p = 0.037; OR: 0.474, 95% CI: 0.269 to 0.834). However, the interactions between club membership and rs6269 or rs4818 would significantly increase the risk of PARIs (both p < 0.001, OR: 5.121 and 4.977, respectively). This is the first study to find the contribution of COMT to PARIs occurrence, suggesting that the COMT polymorphisms and the gene-environment interactions may alter the risk of PARIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangmin Chen
- Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (S.C.); (W.C.); (W.Y.)
- School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Weicong Cai
- Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (S.C.); (W.C.); (W.Y.)
- Shenzhen Center for Chronic Disease Control, Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Shiwei Duan
- Medical Genetics Center, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China;
| | - Lijie Gao
- Department of Epidemiology, Shandong University School of Public Health, Jinan 250012, China; (L.G.); (C.J.)
| | - Wenda Yang
- Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (S.C.); (W.C.); (W.Y.)
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Sport and Physical Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong 999077, China;
| | - Cunxian Jia
- Department of Epidemiology, Shandong University School of Public Health, Jinan 250012, China; (L.G.); (C.J.)
| | - Hongjuan Zhang
- School of Physical Education, Shanxi Normal University, Linfen 041000, China;
| | - Liping Li
- Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China; (S.C.); (W.C.); (W.Y.)
- School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou 515041, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-0754-8890-0467
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14
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Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex mental disorder afflicting approximately 7% of the population. The diverse number of traumatic events and the wide array of symptom combinations leading to PTSD diagnosis contribute substantial heterogeneity to studies of the disorder. Genomic and complimentary-omic investigations have rapidly increased our understanding of the heritable risk for PTSD. In this review, we emphasize the contributions of genome-wide association, epigenome-wide association, transcriptomic, and neuroimaging studies to our understanding of PTSD etiology. We also discuss the shared risk between PTSD and other complex traits derived from studies of causal inference, co-expression, and brain morphological similarities. The investigations completed so far converge on stark contrasts in PTSD risk between sexes, partially attributed to sex-specific prevalence of traumatic experiences with high conditional risk of PTSD. To further understand PTSD biology, future studies should focus on detecting risk for PTSD while accounting for substantial cohort-level heterogeneity (e.g. civilian v. combat-exposed PTSD cases or PTSD risk among cases exposed to specific traumas), expanding ancestral diversity among study cohorts, and remaining cognizant of how these data influence social stigma associated with certain traumatic events among underrepresented minorities and/or high-risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Polimanti
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, West Haven, CT, USA
- Veterans Administration Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Frank R Wendt
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, West Haven, CT, USA
- Veterans Administration Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
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15
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Mohammadi-Farani A, Limoee M, Shirooie S. Sodium butyrate enhances fear extinction and rescues hippocampal acetylcholinesterase activity in a rat model of posttraumatic stress disorder. Behav Pharmacol 2021; 32:413-421. [PMID: 33883448 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
It is believed that impaired extinction of fear memories is an underlying cause for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Histone deacetylases (HDAC) are enzymes that modulate extinction by changing the chromatin structure and altering protein synthesis in the brain. Studies show that stress modifies both HDAC activity and cerebral cholinergic neurotransmission. The present work aims to evaluate the effect of sodium butyrate (NaBu), an HDAC inhibitor, on behavioral markers of extinction and biochemical changes in HDAC and acetylcholinesterase activity in the hippocampus. NaBu was administered for 7 days in a group of rats that were exposed to single prolonged stress (SPS), as a model for PTSD. Contextual fear conditioning was performed on the 8th day, and fear extinction was measured in the next 4 consecutive days. Other behavioral tests to measure anxiety, locomotor activity and working memory were performed for further interpretation of the results. Hippocampal acetylcholinesterase and HDAC activity were also measured through biochemical tests. Behavioral results showed that treatment with NaBu can reverse the SPS-induced extinction deficits. Biochemical data indicated that while SPS induced overactivity in hippocampal HDAC, it decreased acetylcholinesterase activity in the region. Both effects were reversed after NaBu treatment. It seems that at least part of extinction deficiency in SPS exposed rats is related to hypoacetylation of acetylcholinesterase in the hippocampus. Preemptive therapy with an HDAC inhibitor reverses this process and is worth further evaluation as a possible therapeutic approach in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Mohammadi-Farani
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Centre, Health Institute
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy
| | - Mazdak Limoee
- Nano Drug Delivery Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
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16
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van Rooij SJH, Ravi M, Ely TD, Michopoulos V, Winters SJ, Shin J, Marin MF, Milad MR, Rothbaum BO, Ressler KJ, Jovanovic T, Stevens JS. Hippocampal activation during contextual fear inhibition related to resilience in the early aftermath of trauma. Behav Brain Res 2021; 408:113282. [PMID: 33819532 PMCID: PMC8128041 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Impaired contextual fear inhibition is often associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our previous work has demonstrated that more hippocampal activation during a response inhibition task after trauma exposure was related to greater resilience and fewer future PTSD symptoms. In the current study, we sought to extend our previous findings by employing a contextual fear conditioning and extinction paradigm to further determine the role of the hippocampus in resilience and PTSD in the early aftermath of trauma. METHODS Participants (N = 28) were recruited in the Emergency Department shortly after experiencing a traumatic event. A contextual fear inhibition task was conducted in a 3 T MRI scanner approximately two months post-trauma. Measures of resilience (CD-RISC) at time of scan and PTSD symptoms three months post-trauma were collected. The associations between hippocampal activation during fear conditioning and during the effect of context during extinction, and post-trauma resilience and PTSD symptoms at three-months were assessed. RESULTS During fear conditioning, activation of the bilateral hippocampal region of interest (ROI) correlated positively with resilience (r = 0.48, p = 0.01). During the effect of context during extinction, greater bilateral hippocampal activation correlated with lower PTSD symptoms three months post-trauma after controlling for baseline PTSD symptoms, age and gender (r=-0.59, p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS Greater hippocampal activation was related to post-trauma resilience and lower PTSD symptoms three months post-trauma. The current study supports and strengthens prior findings suggesting the importance of hippocampus-dependent context processing as a mechanism for resilience versus PTSD risk, which could be a potential mechanistic target for novel early interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Meghna Ravi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Timothy D Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Vasiliki Michopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sterling J Winters
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jaemin Shin
- MR Applied Science Lab, GE Healthcare, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marie-France Marin
- Department of Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mohammed R Milad
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Barbara O Rothbaum
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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17
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Rule L, Yang J, Watkin H, Hall J, Brydges NM. Environmental enrichment rescues survival and function of adult-born neurons following early life stress. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:1898-1908. [PMID: 32286496 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0718-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Adverse experiences early in life are associated with the development of psychiatric illnesses. The hippocampus is likely to play pivotal role in generating these effects: it undergoes significant development during childhood and is extremely reactive to stress. In rodent models, stress in the pre-pubertal period impairs adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) and behaviours which rely on this process. In normal adult animals, environmental enrichment (EE) is a potent promoter of AHN and hippocampal function. Whether exposure to EE during adolescence can restore normal hippocampal function and AHN following pre-pubertal stress (PPS) is unknown. We investigated EE as a treatment for reduced AHN and hippocampal function following PPS in a rodent model. Stress was administered between post-natal days (PND) 25-27, EE from PND 35 to early adulthood, when behavioural testing and assessment of AHN took place. PPS enhanced fear reactions to a conditioned stimulus (CS) following a trace fear protocol and reduced the survival of 4-week-old adult-born neurons throughout the adult hippocampus. Furthermore, we show that fewer adult-born neurons were active during recall of the CS stimulus following PPS. All effects were reversed by EE. Our results demonstrate lasting effects of PPS on the hippocampus and highlight the utility of EE during adolescence for restoring normal hippocampal function. EE during adolescence is a promising method of enhancing impaired hippocampal function resulting from early life stress, and due to multiple benefits (low cost, few side effects, widespread availability) should be more thoroughly explored as a treatment option in human sufferers of childhood adversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lowenna Rule
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Jessica Yang
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Holly Watkin
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Jeremy Hall
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.,MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Nichola Marie Brydges
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
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van Rooij SJH, Bijanki KR, Willie JT. In Reply: Case Series: Unilateral Amygdala Ablation Ameliorates Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Biomarkers. Neurosurgery 2021; 88:E480-E481. [PMID: 33611569 PMCID: PMC8046583 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyab028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kelly R Bijanki
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery Baylor College of Medicine Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jon T Willie
- Department of Neurosurgery Emory University School of Medicine Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital St Louis, Missouri, USA
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19
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Ney LJ, Akhurst J, Bruno R, Laing PAF, Matthews A, Felmingham KL. Dopamine, endocannabinoids and their interaction in fear extinction and negative affect in PTSD. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2021; 105:110118. [PMID: 32991952 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2020.110118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
There currently exist few frameworks for common neurobiology between reexperiencing and negative cognitions and mood symptoms of PTSD. Adopting a dopaminergic framework for PTSD unites many aspects of unique symptom clusters, and this approach also links PTSD symptomology to common comorbidities with a common neurobiological deficiency. Here we review the dopamine literature and incorporate it with a growing field of research that describes both the contribution of endocannabinoids to fear extinction and PTSD, as well as the interactions between dopaminergic and endocannabinoid systems underlying this disorder. Based on current evidence, we outline an early, preliminary model that links re-experiencing and negative cognitions and mood in PTSD by invoking the interaction between endocannabinoid and dopaminergic signalling in the brain. These interactions between PTSD, dopamine and endocannabinoids may have implications for future therapies for treatment-resistant and comorbid PTSD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke J Ney
- School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Australia.
| | - Jane Akhurst
- School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Australia
| | | | - Patrick A F Laing
- Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne & Melbourne Health, Australia
| | | | - Kim L Felmingham
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia
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20
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Bijanki KR, van Rooij SJH, Ely TD, Stevens JS, Inman CS, Fasano RE, Carter SE, Winters SJ, Baman JR, Drane DL, Jovanovic T, Willie JT. Case Series: Unilateral Amygdala Ablation Ameliorates Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms and Biomarkers. Neurosurgery 2021; 87:796-802. [PMID: 32259241 DOI: 10.1093/neuros/nyaa051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-traumatic stress disorder is a severe psychobiological disorder associated with hyperactivity of the amygdala, particularly on the right side. Highly selective laser ablation of the amygdalohippocampal complex is an effective neurosurgical treatment for medically refractory medial temporal lobe epilepsy that minimizes neurocognitive deficits relative to traditional open surgery. OBJECTIVE To examine the impact of amygdalohippocampotomy upon symptoms and biomarkers of post-traumatic stress disorder. METHODS Two patients with well-documented chronic post-traumatic stress disorder who subsequently developed late-onset epilepsy underwent unilateral laser amygdalohippocampotomy. Prospective clinical and neuropsychological measurements were collected in patient 1. Additional prospective measurements of symptoms and biomarkers were collected pre- and post-surgery in patient 2. RESULTS After laser ablation targeting the nondominant (right) amygdala, both patients experienced not only reduced seizures, but also profoundly abated post-traumatic stress symptoms. Prospective evaluation of biomarkers in patient 2 showed robust improvements in hyperarousal symptoms, fear potentiation of the startle reflex, brain functional magnetic resonance imaging responses to fear-inducing stimuli, and emotional declarative memory. CONCLUSION These observations support the emerging hypothesis that the right amygdala particularly perpetuates the signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and suggests that focal unilateral amydalohippocampotomy can provide therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly R Bijanki
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Timothy D Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Cory S Inman
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Rebecca E Fasano
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sierra E Carter
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sterling J Winters
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Justin R Baman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Daniel L Drane
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Jon T Willie
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.,Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
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21
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Tian T, Li J, Zhang G, Wang J, Liu D, Wan C, Fang J, Wu D, Zhou Y, Zhu W. Effects of childhood trauma experience and COMT Val158Met polymorphism on brain connectivity in a multimodal MRI study. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01858. [PMID: 32997444 PMCID: PMC7749512 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood adversity may act as a stressor to produce a cascade of neurobiological effects that irreversibly alter neural development, setting the stage for developing psychopathology in adulthood. The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism has received much attention as a candidate gene associated with environmental adversity, modifying risk for psychopathology. In this study, we aim to see how gene × brain × environment models give a more integrative understanding of brain modifications that contribute to predicting psychopathology related to childhood adversity. A large nonclinical sample of young adults completed Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), behavioral scores, multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and genotyping. We utilized graph-based connectivity analysis in morphometric similarity mapping and resting-state functional MRI to investigate brain alterations. Relationships among COMT genotypes, CTQ score, imaging phenotypes, and behavioral scores were identified by multiple regression and mediation effect analysis. Significant main effect of CTQ score was found in anatomic connectivity of orbitofrontal cortex that was an outstanding mediator supporting the relationship between CTQ score and anxiety/harm-avoiding personality. We also noted the main effect of childhood trauma on reorganization of functional connectivity within the language network. Additionally, we found genotype × CTQ score interactions on functional connectivity of the right frontoparietal network as well as anatomic connectivity of motor and limbic regions. Our data demonstrate childhood adversity and COMT genotypes are associated with abnormal brain connectivity, structurally and functionally. Early identification of individuals at risk, assessment of brain abnormality, and cognitive interventions may help to prevent or limit negative outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Tian
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guiling Zhang
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dong Liu
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Changhua Wan
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jicheng Fang
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Di Wu
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiran Zhou
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenzhen Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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22
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van Rooij SJ, Smith RD, Stenson AF, Ely TD, Yang X, Tottenham N, Stevens JS, Jovanovic T. Increased activation of the fear neurocircuitry in children exposed to violence. Depress Anxiety 2020; 37:303-312. [PMID: 31951308 PMCID: PMC7145742 DOI: 10.1002/da.22994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Most studies investigating the effect of childhood trauma on the brain are retrospective and mainly focus on maltreatment, whereas different types of trauma exposure such as growing up in a violent neighborhood, as well as developmental stage, could have differential effects on brain structure and function. The current magnetic resonance imaging study assessed the effect of trauma exposure broadly and violence exposure more specifically, as well as developmental stage on the fear neurocircuitry in 8- to 14-year-old children and adolescents (N = 69). We observed reduced hippocampal and increased amygdala volume with increasing levels of trauma exposure. Second, higher levels of violence exposure were associated with increased activation in the amygdala, hippocampus, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex during emotional response inhibition. This association was specifically observed in children younger than 10 years. Finally, increased functional connectivity between the amygdala and brainstem was associated with higher levels of violence exposure. Based on the current findings, it could be hypothesized that trauma exposure during childhood results in structural changes that are associated with later risk for psychiatric disorders. At the same time, it could be postulated that growing up in an unsafe environment leads the brain to functionally adapt to this situation in a way that promotes survival, where the long-term costs or consequences of these adaptations are largely unknown and an area for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne J.H. van Rooij
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Ryan D. Smith
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine
| | - Anaïs F. Stenson
- Wayne State University, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
| | - Timothy D. Ely
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Xinyi Yang
- Colorado School of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics and Informatics
| | | | - Jennifer S. Stevens
- Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Wayne State University, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
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23
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Maul S, Giegling I, Fabbri C, Corponi F, Serretti A, Rujescu D. Genetics of resilience: Implications from genome-wide association studies and candidate genes of the stress response system in posttraumatic stress disorder and depression. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2020; 183:77-94. [PMID: 31583809 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Resilience is the ability to cope with critical situations through the use of personal and socially mediated resources. Since a lack of resilience increases the risk of developing stress-related psychiatric disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD), a better understanding of the biological background is of great value to provide better prevention and treatment options. Resilience is undeniably influenced by genetic factors, but very little is known about the exact underlying mechanisms. A recently published genome-wide association study (GWAS) on resilience has identified three new susceptibility loci, DCLK2, KLHL36, and SLC15A5. Further interesting results can be found in association analyses of gene variants of the stress response system, which is closely related to resilience, and PTSD and MDD. Several promising genes, such as the COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) gene, the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4), and neuropeptide Y (NPY) suggest gene × environment interaction between genetic variants, childhood adversity, and the occurrence of PTSD and MDD, indicating an impact of these genes on resilience. GWAS on PTSD and MDD provide another approach to identifying new disease-associated loci and, although the functional significance for disease development for most of these risk genes is still unknown, they are potential candidates due to the overlap of stress-related psychiatric disorders and resilience. In the future, it will be important for genetic studies to focus more on resilience than on pathological phenotypes, to develop reasonable concepts for measuring resilience, and to establish international cooperations to generate sufficiently large samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Maul
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Ina Giegling
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Chiara Fabbri
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Filippo Corponi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessandro Serretti
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dan Rujescu
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
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24
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Mekawi Y, Murphy L, Munoz A, Briscione M, Tone EB, Norrholm SD, Jovanovic T, Bradley B, Powers A. The role of negative affect in the association between attention bias to threat and posttraumatic stress: An eye-tracking study. Psychiatry Res 2020; 284:112674. [PMID: 31831200 PMCID: PMC7012707 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Biased processing of threatening stimuli, including attention toward and away from threat, has been implicated in the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms. Research examining theoretically-derived mechanisms through which dysregulated processing of threat may be associated with PTSD is scarce. Negative affect, a transdiagnostic risk factor for many types of psychopathology, is one potential mechanism that has yet to be examined. Thus, the present study (n = 92) tested the indirect effect of attention bias on PTSD via negative affect using rigorous eye-tracking methodology in a sample of urban-dwelling, trauma-exposed African-American women. We found support for the hypothesis that attention bias toward threat was indirectly associated with PTSD symptoms through increased negative affect. These results suggest that negative affect may be an important etiological process through which attention bias patterns could impact PTSD symptom severity. Implications for psychological and pharmacological therapeutic interventions targeting threat-related attention biases and negative affect are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Mekawi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Georgia, United States of America.
| | | | - Adam Munoz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Maria Briscione
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Erin B. Tone
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University
| | - Seth D. Norrholm
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine,Atlanta VA Medical Center, Georgia State University
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Bekh Bradley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine,Atlanta VA Medical Center, Georgia State University
| | - Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
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25
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al'Absi M. The influence of stress and early life adversity on addiction: Psychobiological mechanisms of risk and resilience. STRESS AND BRAIN HEALTH: IN CLINICAL CONDITIONS 2020; 152:71-100. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2020.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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26
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Jiang S, Postovit L, Cattaneo A, Binder EB, Aitchison KJ. Epigenetic Modifications in Stress Response Genes Associated With Childhood Trauma. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:808. [PMID: 31780969 PMCID: PMC6857662 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) may be referred to by other terms (e.g., early life adversity or stress and childhood trauma) and have a lifelong impact on mental and physical health. For example, childhood trauma has been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The heritability of ACE-related phenotypes such as PTSD, depression, and resilience is low to moderate, and, moreover, is very variable for a given phenotype, which implies that gene by environment interactions (such as through epigenetic modifications) may be involved in the onset of these phenotypes. Currently, there is increasing interest in the investigation of epigenetic contributions to ACE-induced differential health outcomes. Although there are a number of studies in this field, there are still research gaps. In this review, the basic concepts of epigenetic modifications (such as methylation) and the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the stress response are outlined. Examples of specific genes undergoing methylation in association with ACE-induced differential health outcomes are provided. Limitations in this field, e.g., uncertain clinical diagnosis, conceptual inconsistencies, and technical drawbacks, are reviewed, with suggestions for advances using new technologies and novel research directions. We thereby provide a platform on which the field of ACE-induced phenotypes in mental health may build.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shui Jiang
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Lynne Postovit
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Annamaria Cattaneo
- Biological Psychiatric Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elisabeth B. Binder
- Department of Translational Research in Psychiatry, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Katherine J. Aitchison
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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27
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Richter A, Krämer B, Diekhof EK, Gruber O. Resilience to adversity is associated with increased activity and connectivity in the VTA and hippocampus. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 23:101920. [PMID: 31491818 PMCID: PMC6617249 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests altered function of the mesolimbic reward system resulting from exposure to early adversity. The present study investigated the combined long-term impact of adversity until young adulthood on neuronal reward processing and its interaction with individual resilience processes. In this functional magnetic resonance imaging study, 97 healthy young adults performed a reward-based decision-making task. Adversity as well as resilience were assessed retrospectively using the validated childhood trauma questionnaire, trauma history questionnaire and a resilience scale. Subjects with high adversity load showed reduced reward-related bottom-up activation in the ventral striatum (VS), ventral tegmental area (VTA) and hippocampus (HP) as compared to the low adversity group. However, high resilience traits in individuals with high adversity load were associated with an increased activation in the VTA and HP, indicating a possible resilience-related protective mechanism. Moreover, when comparing groups with high to low adversity, psychophysiological interaction analyses highlighted an increased negative functional coupling between VS and VTA as well as between VS and anteroventral prefrontal cortex (avPFC) during reward acceptance, and an impaired top-down control of the VS by the avPFC during reward rejection. In turn, combination of high adversity and high resilience traits was associated with an improved functional coupling between VTA, VS and HP. Thereby, the present findings identify neural mechanisms mediating interacting effects of adversity and resilience, which could be targeted by early intervention and prevention. fMRI activity in the reward system decresead with adversity load. Stress exposure associated with impaired connectivity in the reward system. fMRI activity in VTA and hippocampus incresead with resilience to adversity. Functional coupling within reward circuitry improved with resilience to adversity. Evidence for protective resilience-related mechanisms mediated by VTA & hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Richter
- Section for Experimental Psychopathology and Neuroimaging, Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University, Germany; Center for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany; Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UK.
| | - Bernd Krämer
- Section for Experimental Psychopathology and Neuroimaging, Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University, Germany; Center for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Esther K Diekhof
- Center for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany; Neuroendocrinology Unit, Institute of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Universität Hamburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Gruber
- Section for Experimental Psychopathology and Neuroimaging, Department of General Psychiatry, Heidelberg University, Germany; Center for Translational Research in Systems Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
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28
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van Rooij SJH, Jovanovic T. Impaired inhibition as an intermediate phenotype for PTSD risk and treatment response. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2019; 89:435-445. [PMID: 30381236 PMCID: PMC6349256 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of fear involves learning and then appropriately responding to safety signals, and has been shown to be impaired in PTSD patients. Response inhibition refers to cognitive control and likely uses the same prefrontal cortex circuits as fear inhibition, and has also been implicated in PTSD. Impaired inhibition can serve as an intermediate phenotype for PTSD and can be measured with neuroimaging and psychophysiological tools. We first review the neurobiological mechanisms of fear and response inhibition. Next, we summarize the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and psychophysiological studies using fear and response inhibition paradigms in PTSD patients. Finally, we evaluate the theranostic role of impaired inhibition in PTSD risk and treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 49 Jesse Hill Jr Dr, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 49 Jesse Hill Jr Dr, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Wayne State University, USA.
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29
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Tiwari A, Gonzalez A. Biological alterations affecting risk of adult psychopathology following childhood trauma: A review of sex differences. Clin Psychol Rev 2018; 66:69-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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30
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van Rooij SJH, Stevens JS, Ely TD, Hinrichs R, Michopoulos V, Winters SJ, Ogbonmwan YE, Shin J, Nugent NR, Hudak LA, Rothbaum BO, Ressler KJ, Jovanovic T. The Role of the Hippocampus in Predicting Future Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Recently Traumatized Civilians. Biol Psychiatry 2018; 84:106-115. [PMID: 29110899 PMCID: PMC5860925 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2017.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding the neurobiological mechanisms that predict posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in recent trauma survivors is important for early interventions. Impaired inhibition of fear or behavioral responses is thought to be central to PTSD symptomatology, but its role in predicting PTSD is unknown. Here we examine whether brain function during response inhibition early after a civilian trauma can predict future PTSD symptoms. METHODS Participants (original sample, n = 27; replication sample, n = 31) were recruited in the emergency department within 24 hours of trauma exposure. PTSD symptoms were assessed in the emergency department and 1, 3, and 6 months posttrauma. A Go/NoGo procedure in a 3T magnetic resonance imaging scanner was used to measure neural correlates of response inhibition 1 to 2 months posttrauma. Elastic net regression was used to define the most optimal model to predict PTSD symptoms at 3 and 6 months among demographic, clinical, and imaging measures. RESULTS Less hippocampal activation was a significant predictor in the model predicting PTSD symptoms at 3 months (F11,22 = 4.33, p = .01) and 6 months (F9,19 = 4.96, p = .01). Other significant predictors in the model were race and pain level in the emergency department (3 months), and race and baseline depression symptoms (6 months). Using these predictors in a linear regression in the replication sample again resulted in significant models (3 months [F3,23 = 3.03, p = .05], 6 months [F3,20 = 5.74, p = .007]) with hippocampal activation predicting PTSD symptoms at 3 and 6 months. CONCLUSIONS Decreased inhibition-related hippocampal activation soon after trauma predicted future PTSD symptom severity. This finding may contribute to early identification of at-risk individuals and reveals potential targets for intervention or symptom prevention in the aftermath of trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne J H van Rooij
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | - Jennifer S Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Timothy D Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Rebecca Hinrichs
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Vasiliki Michopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sterling J Winters
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Yvonne E Ogbonmwan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jaemin Shin
- Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Nicole R Nugent
- Division of Behavioral Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island; Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Lauren A Hudak
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Barbara O Rothbaum
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Kerry J Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; McLean Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts
| | - Tanja Jovanovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
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Iadipaolo AS, Marusak HA, Paulisin SM, Sala-Hamrick K, Crespo LM, Elrahal F, Peters C, Brown S, Rabinak CA. Distinct neural correlates of trait resilience within core neurocognitive networks in at-risk children and adolescents. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2018; 20:24-34. [PMID: 29988970 PMCID: PMC6034583 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Most children who are exposed to threat-related adversity (e.g., violence, abuse, neglect) are resilient - that is, they show stable trajectories of healthy psychological development. Despite this, most research on neurodevelopmental changes following adversity has focused on the neural correlates of negative outcomes, such as psychopathology. The neural correlates of trait resilience in pediatric populations are unknown, and it is unclear whether they are distinct from those related to adversity exposure and the absence of negative outcomes (e.g., depressive symptomology). Methods This functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study reports on a diverse sample of 55 children and adolescents (ages 6-17 years) recruited from a range of stressful environments (e.g., lower income, threat-related adversity exposure). Participants completed a multi-echo multi-band resting-state fMRI scan and self-report measures of trait resilience and emotion-related symptomology (e.g., depressive symptoms). Resting-state data were submitted to an independent component analysis (ICA) to identify core neurocognitive networks (salience and emotion network [SEN], default mode network [DMN], central executive network [CEN]). We tested for links among trait resilience and dynamic (i.e., time-varying) as well as conventional static (i.e., averaged across the entire session) resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of core neurocognitive networks. Results Youth with higher trait resilience spent a lower fraction of time in a particular dynamic rsFC state, characterized by heightened rsFC between the anterior DMN and right CEN. Within this state, trait resilience was associated with lower rsFC of the SEN with the right CEN and anterior DMN. There were no associations among trait resilience and conventional static rsFC. Importantly, although more resilient youth reported lower depressive symptoms, the effects of resilience on rsFC were independent of depressive symptoms and adversity exposure. Conclusions The present study is the first to report on the neural correlates of trait resilience in youth, and offers initial insight into potential adaptive patterns of brain organization in the context of environmental stressors. Understanding the neural dynamics underlying positive adaptation to early adversity will aid in the development of interventions that focus on strengthening resilience rather than mitigating already-present psychological problems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hilary A Marusak
- Departments of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States.
| | - Shelley M Paulisin
- Departments of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | | | - Laura M Crespo
- Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Farrah Elrahal
- Departments of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Craig Peters
- Departments of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Suzanne Brown
- Social Work, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Christine A Rabinak
- Departments of Pharmacy Practice, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States; Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States; Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States; Translational Neuroscience Program, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
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Bolsinger J, Seifritz E, Kleim B, Manoliu A. Neuroimaging Correlates of Resilience to Traumatic Events-A Comprehensive Review. Front Psychiatry 2018; 9:693. [PMID: 30631288 PMCID: PMC6315158 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Improved understanding of the neurobiological correlates of resilience would be an important step toward recognizing individuals at risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other trauma-related diseases, enabling both preventative measures and individually tailored therapeutic approaches. Studies on vulnerability factors allow drawing conclusions on resilience. Structural changes of cortical and subcortical structures, as well as alterations in functional connectivity and functional activity, have been demonstrated to occur in individuals with PTSD symptoms. Relevant areas of interest are hippocampus, amygdala, insula, anterior cingulate cortex, and prefrontal cortex, as well as related brain networks, such as the default-mode, salience, and central executive network. This review summarizes the existing literature and integrates findings from cross-sectional study designs with two-group designs (trauma exposed individuals with and without PTSD), three-group designs (with an additional group of unexposed, healthy controls), twin-studies and longitudinal studies. In terms of structural findings, decreased hippocampal volume in PTSD individuals might be either a vulnerability factor or a result of trauma exposure, or both. Reduced anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex volumes seem to be predisposing factors for increased vulnerability. Regarding functional connectivity, increased amygdala connectivity has been demonstrated selectively in PTSD individuals, as well as increased default-mode-network and salience network connectivity. In terms of functional activity, increased amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex activities, and decreased prefrontal cortex activity as a response to external stimuli have been associated with higher vulnerability. Increased prefrontal cortex activity seemed to be a protective factor. Selecting adequate study designs, optimizing the diagnostic criteria, as well as differentiating between types of trauma and accounting for other factors, such as gender-specific differences, would be well-served in future research. Conclusions on potential preventative measures, as well as clinical applications, can be drawn from the present literature, but more studies are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Bolsinger
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Erich Seifritz
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Birgit Kleim
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.,Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrei Manoliu
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Significant association between catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val 158/108Met polymorphism and cognitive function in veterans with PTSD. Neurosci Lett 2017; 666:38-43. [PMID: 29248614 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2017.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Core features of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are cognitive disturbances. Enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) degrades dopamine primarily in prefrontal cortex. Its functional polymorphism, COMT Val158/108Met, affects COMT activity and dopamine availability and is associated with disturbances in cognition. The hypothesis was that PTSD subjects will have worse working memory than healthy controls and that the carriers of the COMT Met allele will show better cognitive performance compared to Val/Val carriers in PTSD and controls subjects. The aim of this study was to assess the differences in cognitive functioning between PTSD and control subjects and to evaluate the association between COMT Val158/108Met polymorphism and cognitive function determined using the Rey-Osterrieth complex figure (ROCF) copy, immediate and delayed test. The study included 323 male Caucasian participants of Croatian origin: 205 male combat veterans with PTSD and 118 control subjects. A significant association between the COMT Val158/108Met and the ROCF immediate and delayed scores in veterans with PTSD was found. We confirmed, on ethnically homogenous groups of veterans with matched combat experience, that controls had higher ROCF immediate and delayed test scores than veterans with PTSD. In PTSD subjects, the Met carriers of the COMT Val158/108Met performed better (i.e. had higher ROCF scores) than Val/Val homozygotes on both ROCF immediate recall and delayed recall test. Our results provide the first evidence that the presence of one or two Met alleles of the COMT Val158/108Met might act as a protective variant in working memory tasks in combat exposed veterans with PTSD.
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Tible OP, Riese F, Savaskan E, von Gunten A. Best practice in the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2017; 10:297-309. [PMID: 28781611 PMCID: PMC5518961 DOI: 10.1177/1756285617712979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) occur in most patients with dementia. They cause great suffering in patients and caregivers, sometimes more so than the cognitive and functional decline inherent to dementia. The clinical features of BPSD include a wide variety of affective, psychotic and behavioural symptoms and signs. The causes and risk factors for BPSD are multiple and include biological, psychological and environmental variables. Frequently, their combination, rather than any specific factor, explains the occurrence of BPSD in an individual patient. Thus, a sound etiopathogenetic investigation including the patient and the family or care team is essential. The aim is to develop an individualized treatment plan using a therapeutic decision tree modified by the individual and environmental risk profile. Still, treatment may be difficult and challenging. Clinical empiricism often steps in where evidence from controlled studies is lacking. Psychosocial treatment approaches are pivotal for successful treatment of BPSD. Often a combination of different non-pharmacological approaches precedes drug treatment (most of which is off-label). Regular assessments of the treatment plan and any prescriptions must be carried out to detect signs of relapse and to stop any medicines that may have become inappropriate. Even with optimal management, BPSD will not disappear completely in some cases and will remain challenging for all involved parties. This article is a narrative review based closely on the interprofessional Swiss recommendations for the treatment of BPSD. To establish the recommendations, a thorough research of the literature has been carried out. Evidence-based data were provided through searches of Medline, Embase, ISI and Cochrane-Database research. Evidence categories of the World Federation of Biological Societies were used. Additionally, the clinical experience of Swiss medical experts was considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Pierre Tible
- Department of Psychiatry, Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Age Avancé (SUPAA), Lausanne University Hospital, CH-1008 Prilly, Switzerland
| | - Florian Riese
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Zurich, Switzerland University Research Priority Programme 'Dynamics of Healthy Aging', University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Egemen Savaskan
- Department of Geriatric Psychiatry, University Hospital of Psychiatry, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Armin von Gunten
- Department of Psychiatry, Service Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Age Avancé (SUPAA), Lausanne University Hospital, Prilly, Switzerland
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Young G. PTSD in Court II: Risk factors, endophenotypes, and biological underpinnings in PTSD. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LAW AND PSYCHIATRY 2017; 51:1-21. [PMID: 28262266 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2017.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The second article in the series of three for the journal on "PTSD in Court" especially concerns the biological bases that have been found to be associated with PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder). The cohering concepts in this section relate to risk factors; candidate genes; polygenetics; "gene×environment" interactions; epigenetics; endophenotypes; biomarkers; and connective networks both structurally and functionally (in terms of intrinsic connectivity networks, ICNs, including the DMN, SN, and CEN; that is, default mode, salience, and central executive networks, respectively). Risk factors related to PTSD include pre-event, event- and post-event ones. Some of the genes related to PTSD include: FKBP5, 5-HTTLPR, and COMT (which are, respectively, FK506-binding protein 5 gene, serotonin-transporter linked polymorphic region, catechol-O-methyl-transferase). These genetic findings give an estimate of 30% for the genetic influence on PTSD. The typical brain regions involved in PTSD include the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, along with the insula. Causal models of behavior are multifactorial and biopsychosocial, and these types of models apply to PTSD, as well. The paper presents a multilevel systems model of psychopathology, including PTSD, which involves three levels - a top-down psychological construct one, a bottom-up symptom connection one, and a middle one involving symptom appraisal. Legally, causality refers to the event at issue needing to meet the bar of being materially contributory to the outcome. Finally, this section of the article reviews empirically-supported therapies for PTSD and the dangers of not receiving treatment for it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Young
- Glendon Campus, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Abstract
Medical yoga is defined as the use of yoga practices for the prevention and treatment of medical conditions. Beyond the physical elements of yoga, which are important and effective for strengthening the body, medical yoga also incorporates appropriate breathing techniques, mindfulness, and meditation in order to achieve the maximum benefits. Multiple studies have shown that yoga can positively impact the body in many ways, including helping to regulate blood glucose levels, improve musculoskeletal ailments and keeping the cardiovascular system in tune. It also has been shown to have important psychological benefits, as the practice of yoga can help to increase mental energy and positive feelings, and decrease negative feelings of aggressiveness, depression and anxiety.
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