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Published on: July 1, 2014
Reduced area of the corpus callosum in posttraumatic stress disorder
Gerardo Villarreal1, Derek A Hamilton, David P Graham
1New Mexico VA Healthcare System, PTSD Program (116A), 1501 San Pedro Drive SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA. Gerardo.Villarreal@med.va.gov
Insights
Adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) show reduced corpus callosum (CC) size, particularly in specific regions. These findings in adults mirror earlier observations in children with PTSD, suggesting targeted brain changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Neuropsychiatry
- Brain Anatomy
Background:
- Pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) studies indicate reduced corpus callosum (CC) size.
- Previous research in adults with PTSD reported decreased whole-brain white matter volume.
- No prior data existed on CC area in adult PTSD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate corpus callosum (CC) area in adult patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- To compare CC size between adult PTSD patients and matched controls.
- To determine if CC changes in adult PTSD are independent of generalized white matter atrophy.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to acquire whole-brain images.
- Mid-sagittal area of the corpus callosum (CC) and its seven sub-regions were calculated.
- Total brain parenchyma volume was used for normalization.
Main Results:
- Adult PTSD patients exhibited smaller total CC area, both absolute and normalized, compared to controls.
- Specific CC sub-regions (genu, mid-body, isthmus) were significantly smaller in PTSD patients.
- A trend towards smaller anterior mid-body area was observed in PTSD patients, with no differences in rostrum, rostral body, or splenium.
Conclusions:
- Adults with PTSD demonstrate reduced corpus callosum (CC) area, even after accounting for total brain tissue.
- These findings align with pediatric studies, suggesting specific CC alterations in PTSD.
- The results indicate that CC changes in adult PTSD are not merely a consequence of generalized white matter loss.
Abstract:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have revealed decreases in the mid-sagittal area of the corpus callosum (CC) in pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but at present no data are available in adult PTSD patients. We have previously reported decreased whole-brain white matter (WM) volume in adults with PTSD and now report corpus callosum area from the same sample. MRI was used to obtain whole-brain images in 12 adult patients with PTSD and 10 matched controls. Total parenchyma (white matter plus gray matter [GM]) volume, mid-sagittal area of the CC and seven sub-regions of this structure were calculated. In PTSD patients, the total CC area, absolute and normalized to total brain parenchyma, was smaller compared with control values. Several absolute and normalized CC sub-regions were also smaller in PTSD patients: genu (region 2), mid-body (region 5) and isthmus (region 6). There was also a trend for the anterior mid-body (area 4) to be smaller in PTSD patients. No differences were found in the rostrum (region 1), rostral body (region 3) or splenium (region 7). Adult patients with PTSD had decreased CC area after correcting for total brain tissue, indicating that these differences are not attributable to generalized white matter atrophy. These findings are similar to previous results in children with PTSD and suggest specific changes in the CC.
