Neuroanatomical changes associated with pharmacotherapy in posttraumatic stress disorder.
Brain imaging studies have mapped out the neural circuitry of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), implicating brain areas sensitive to stress such as the hippocampus. Animal studies show that antidepressants promote hippocampal neurogenesis and block the effects of stress on the hippocampus. We found that treatment of PTSD patients for a year with the serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) paroxetine resulted in a 5% increase in hippocampal volume and a 35% improvement in verbal declarative memory function. Patients subjectively reported an improvement in cognition and work performance. These studies are consistent with the idea that antidepressants have a beneficial effect on hippocampal function in PTSD patients.
Bremner
J Douglas
JD
Department of Psychiatry, Emory Center for Positron Emission Tomography, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. jdbremn@emory.edu
Vermetten
Eric
E
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D009420:Nervous System / Q000473:pathology*; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D014705:Verbal Behavior
D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors