title: Reduced hippocampal volume in alcohol and substance naïve Vietnam combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study was undertaken to exclude the effects of alcohol and other substances on brain morphology in posttraumatic stress disorder.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use are among the conditions associated with decreased hippocampal volume. The possible confounding contribution of alcohol and other substances of abuse to decreased hippocampal volume in posttraumatic stress disorder has not been previously explored directly.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this pilot study, magnetic resonance imaging scans of 4 substance naive subjects with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder and of 4 controls were quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bilateral hippocampal volumes were significantly smaller in posttraumatic stress disorder subjects. No significant differences were found between posttraumatic stress disorder subjects and the comparison group for total brain, gray and white matter, and ventricular volumes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that posttraumatic stress disorder in the absence of alcohol and other substance abuse may be associated with reduced hippocampal volume. The significance of reduced hippocampal volume in posttraumatic stress disorder is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA. dawson_hedges@byu.edu
authors.forename: Dawson W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hedges
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Tate
authors.forename: G William
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Thatcher
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Sara A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Howard B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Cleavinger
authors.forename: Shabnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.forename: Erin D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Bigler
mesh_terms: D001284:Atrophy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000473:pathology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000473:pathology*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology; D014744:Vietnam