Different Regional Gray Matter Loss in Recent Onset PTSD and Non PTSD after a Single Prolonged Trauma Exposure

Abstract

ObjectiveGray matter loss in the limbic structures was found in recent onset post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients. In the present study, we measured regional gray matter volume in trauma survivors to verify the hypothesis that stress may cause different regional gray matter loss in trauma survivors with and without recent onset PTSD.MethodHigh resolution T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were obtained from coal mine flood disaster survivors with (n = 10) and without (n = 10) recent onset PTSD and 20 no trauma exposed normal controls. The voxel-based morphometry (VBM) method was used to measure the regional gray matter volume in three groups, the correlations of PTSD symptom severities with the gray matter volume in trauma survivors were also analyzed by multiple regression.ResultsCompared with normal controls, recent onset PTSD patients had smaller gray matter volume in left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and non PTSD subjects had smaller gray matter volume in the right pulvinar and left pallidum. The gray matter volume of the trauma survivors correlated negatively with CAPS scores in the right frontal lobe, left anterior and middle cingulate cortex, bilateral cuneus cortex, right middle occipital lobe, while in the recent onset PTSD, the gray matter volume correlated negatively with CAPS scores in bilateral superior medial frontal lobe and right ACC.ConclusionThe present study identified gray matter loss in different regions in recent onset PTSD and non PTSD after a single prolonged trauma exposure. The gray matter volume of left dorsal ACC associated with the development of PTSD, while the gray matter volume of right pulvinar and left pallidum associated with the response to the severe stress. The atrophy of the frontal and limbic cortices predicts the symptom severities of the PTSD.

Clinical Utility of SPECT Neuroimaging in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review

“…In both types of studies, the frontal lobes were the most commonly affected region. This finding has implications for anatomical localization in clinical practice, vulnerability to other psychiatric disorders such as PTSD that are also associated with frontal lobe dysfunction, and determining risk for neurocognitive deficits in such domains as executive function [121]. The findings of temporal lobe hypoperfusion in longitudinal studies as being equal to the frontal lobes in terms of frequency of abnormalities lends insight as to why persons with TBI have increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease [122].…”

Identification of a Common Neurobiological Substrate for Mental Illness

“…In SCZ, volume in these regions decreases with psychosis onset relative to individuals in a high-risk state. 62,63 Decreased insula or dACC volume is seen in individuals with recent-onset posttraumatic stress disorder, 64,65 but not the twin of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder, who would carry their genetic risk but not have been exposed to trauma. 66 However, there may be certain risk states in which insula/dACC volumes are reduced, such as childhood maltreatment, 67,68 which is a risk factor for most psychiatric diagnoses.…”

Volumetric and shape analyses of subcortical structures in United States service members with mild traumatic brain injury

“…Nucleus accumbens and amygdala are both involved with fear conditioning [52], and nucleus accumbens volume has been correlated with trait anxiety [39]. A sample of individuals without diagnosis of PTSD, but exposed to a prolonged traumatic event (coal mine flood disaster) had smaller gray matter volumes of the right pulvinar versus a control population [12]. Anxiety, lack of motivation and mood symptoms are common complaints in patients who have sustained mTBI, but until more prospective studies are conducted, it is unclear if persistent symptoms are related directly to injury or the exposure to the traumatic event [30].…”