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Brain changes in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder and associated alcoholism: MRI based study
Ana Starčević1, Ivan Dimitrijević, Milan Aksić
1University of Belgrade, School of Medicine, Pasterova 2, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia.
Psychiatria Danubina
|March 10, 2015
Summary
Excessive alcohol intake significantly worsens hippocampal volume reduction in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This effect was observed in adult patients, suggesting chronicity may be a factor in PTSD-related brain changes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Radiology
Background:
- Previous studies on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol intake have yielded inconsistent findings regarding hippocampal volume.
- Adolescent samples in prior research may explain the lack of observed volume reduction, suggesting chronicity is crucial.
- This study investigates the impact of excessive alcohol intake on brain structures in adult PTSD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if hippocampal, amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and intracranial volumes are reduced in patients with PTSD and excessive alcohol intake.
- To compare brain volumes between PTSD patients with and without excessive alcohol consumption, and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used for volumetric evaluation.
- The study included 54 therapy-naive PTSD subjects and 25 healthy controls.
- Participants were categorized into groups based on PTSD diagnosis and alcohol consumption levels.
Main Results:
- A significant reduction in hippocampal volume was found exclusively in PTSD patients with alcoholism.
- No statistically significant differences in amygdala, prefrontal cortex, or intracranial volumes were observed across groups.
Conclusions:
- Excessive alcohol consumption exacerbates hippocampal deterioration in individuals with PTSD.
- Brain structure volumetric analysis did not reveal significant differences in other regions studied, highlighting the specific impact on the hippocampus.
