Longitudinal MRI study of hippocampal volume in trauma survivors with PTSD.
OBJECTIVE
The authors prospectively explored whether a reduction in the volume of the hippocampus occurs in recent trauma survivors who develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).


METHODS
Thirty-seven survivors of traumatic events were assessed within a week of the traumatic event and 6 months later. The assessment included magnetic resonance imaging of the brain (including 124 coronal slices of 1.5-mm thickness), psychometric testing, and structured clinical interviews. The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale conferred PTSD diagnoses at 6 months.


RESULTS
Ten subjects (27%) had PTSD at 6 months. The subjects with PTSD did not differ from those without PTSD in hippocampal volume (right or left) at 1 week or 6 months. There was no reduction in hippocampal volume in the PTSD subjects between 1 week and 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Smaller hippocampal volume is not a necessary risk factor for developing PTSD and does not occur within 6 months of expressing the disorder. This brain abnormality might occur in individuals with chronic or complicated PTSD.
Bonne
O
O
Department of Psychiatry, Hadassah University Hospital, P.O. Box 12000, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
Brandes
D
D
Gilboa
A
A
Gomori
J M
JM
Shenton
M E
ME
Pitman
R K
RK
Shalev
A Y
AY
D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data