Probing reward function in post-traumatic stress disorder with beautiful facial images.
Reward dysfunction may be implicated in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study applied a behavioral probe, known to activate brain reward regions, to subjects with PTSD. Male heterosexual Vietnam veterans with (n = 12) or without (n = 11) current PTSD were administered two tasks: (a) key pressing to change the viewing time of average or beautiful female or male facial images, and (b) rating the attractiveness of these images. There were no significant group differences in the attractiveness ratings. However, PTSD patients expended less effort to extend the viewing time of the beautiful female faces. These findings suggest a reward deficit in PTSD.
Elman
Igor
I
Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA. ielman@partners.org
Ariely
Dan
D
Mazar
Nina
N
Aharon
Itzhak
I
Lasko
Natasha B
NB
Macklin
Michael L
ML
Orr
Scott P
SP
Lukas
Scott E
SE
Pitman
Roger K
RK
D001504:Beauty; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020010:Heterosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012201:Reward; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*