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A meta-analysis of structural brain abnormalities in PTSD.
Anke Karl1, Michael Schaefer, Loretta S Malta
1Biopsychology Unit, University of Technology Dresden, Germany. karl@soton.ac.uk <karl@soton.ac.uk>
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|May 30, 2006
Summary
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is linked to smaller hippocampal volumes, especially in adults. These brain differences in PTSD patients also involve the amygdala and frontal lobe, suggesting a developmental psychopathology model.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Radiology
Background:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex mental health condition.
- Structural brain abnormalities are increasingly investigated as potential biomarkers for PTSD.
- Previous research shows mixed findings regarding hippocampal volume in PTSD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze structural brain abnormalities in individuals with PTSD.
- To compare brain volumes in persons with PTSD against trauma-exposed and non-exposed control groups.
- To explore factors moderating group differences in brain structure.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a series of meta-analyses on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies.
- Included participants diagnosed with PTSD, trauma-exposed controls, and trauma-naïve controls.
- Analyzed volumetric data from the hippocampus, amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, corpus callosum, and frontal lobes.
Main Results:
- Significantly smaller hippocampal volumes were observed in individuals with PTSD compared to both control groups.
- Smaller hippocampal volumes in PTSD were moderated by MRI methodology, PTSD severity, medication, age, and gender.
- Trauma-exposed individuals without PTSD also exhibited smaller hippocampal volumes than trauma-naïve controls.
- Adults with PTSD showed smaller left amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex volumes.
- Pediatric samples with PTSD had smaller corpus callosum and frontal lobe volumes, but not hippocampal volumes.
Conclusions:
- Findings support a dimensional, developmental psychopathology systems model of PTSD.
- Hippocampal volume differences in PTSD appear to covary with symptom severity and emerge in adulthood.
- PTSD is associated with structural abnormalities across multiple frontal-limbic system regions.