A whole-brain voxel-based analysis of structural abnormalities in PTSD: An ENIGMA-PGC study
Cheryl R Z See1, Shuqing Si1, C Lexi Baird2,3
1Department of Psychosis, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
Summary
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is linked to reduced gray and white matter brain volumes, particularly in the cerebellum. Greater symptom severity correlates with more significant brain structure deficits, implicating the cerebellum in PTSD.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Psychiatry
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with reduced brain volumes in areas like the amygdala and hippocampus.
- These regions are critical for processing fear and memory.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a voxel-based morphometry (VBM) meta-analysis of neuroimaging data from the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD working group.
- To identify whole-brain differences in gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes between PTSD patients and controls.
Main Methods:
- Utilized T1-weighted structural neuroimaging scans from 36 cohorts (1309 PTSD patients, 2198 controls).
- Processed data using a standardized VBM pipeline (ENIGMA-VBM tool).
- Performed subgroup analyses and examined associations between brain volumes and clinical variables (PTSD and depression severity).
Main Results:
- PTSD patients showed smaller GM volumes in frontal, temporal lobes, and cerebellum (most significant in left cerebellum).
- Reduced cerebellar WM volume was also observed.
- Structural abnormalities were similar when compared to trauma-exposed controls, suggesting PTSD specificity.
- PTSD severity negatively correlated with cerebellar GM volume; depression severity negatively correlated with GM volumes in the cerebellum and superior frontal gyrus.
Conclusions:
- PTSD patients exhibit widespread regional brain volume differences, with greater deficits linked to symptom severity.
- Findings highlight the cerebellum's role in PTSD psychopathology.
