Abstract | Introduction: Smaller hippocampal volumes are one of the most consistent findings in neuroimaging studies of post-traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD). However, very few prospective studies have assessed changes in hippocampal gray matter prior to and following therapy for PTSD, and no neuroimaging studies to date have longitudinally assessed military populations. Methods: A pilot study was conducted, assessing patients with combat-related PTSD with structural MRI. Participants were then assigned either to a treatment group or waiting-list control group. After the treatment group received multimodal psychological therapy for approximately 6 weeks, both groups completed a second neuroimaging assessment. Results: Region-of-interest analysis was used to measure gray matter volume in the hippocampus and amygdala. There was a group by time interaction; the therapy group (n = 6) showed a significant increase in hippocampal volume and a nonsignificant trend toward an increase in amygdala volume following therapy, while no change was observed in the waiting-list group (n = 9). Conclusions: This study provides initial evidence for increases in gray matter volume in the hippocampus in response to therapy for combat-related PTSD.
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Authors | Oisin Butler, Gerd Willmund, Tobias Gleich, Jürgen Gallinat, Simone Kühn, Peter Zimmermann |
Journal | Brain and behavior
(Brain Behav)
Vol. 8
Issue 5
Pg. e00956
(05 2018)
ISSN: 2162-3279 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 29761009
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Topics |
- Adult
- Amygdala
(diagnostic imaging, pathology)
- Combat Disorders
(diagnosis, psychology, therapy)
- Female
- Gray Matter
(diagnostic imaging, pathology)
- Hippocampus
(diagnostic imaging, pathology)
- Humans
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(methods)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Military Personnel
(psychology)
- Military Psychiatry
(methods)
- Neuroimaging
(methods)
- Organ Size
- Pilot Projects
- Prospective Studies
- Psychotherapy, Group
(methods)
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
(diagnosis, psychology, therapy)
- Treatment Outcome
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