Brain, skull, and cerebrospinal fluid volumes in adult posttraumatic stress disorder.
Children and adolescents with maltreatment-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit smaller intracranial tissue volume than controls. Linear relationships have also been observed between intracranial tissue volume and the age of maltreatment onset. The authors explored associations among adult PTSD, early trauma, and cerebral volumes in 99 combat veterans. A bone-based estimate of cranial volume was developed to adjust for variation in body size. Posttraumatic stress disorder was not associated with smaller cerebral tissue volume, but rather with smaller cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and cranial volumes. These findings co-occurred with expected effects of alcoholism and aging on cerebral tissue and CSF volumes. The results point to early developmental divergences between groups with and without PTSD following adult trauma.
Woodward
Steven H
SH
National Center for PTSD, Clinical Laboratory and Education Division and Psychology Service, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, CA 94025, USA. Steve.woodward@med.va.gov
Kaloupek
Danny G
DG
Streeter
Chris C
CC
Kimble
Matthew O
MO
Reiss
Allan L
AL
Eliez
Stephan
S
Wald
Lawrence L
LL
Renshaw
Perry F
PF
Frederick
Blaise B
BB
Lane
Barton
B
Sheikh
Javaid I
JI
Stegman
Wendy K
WK
Kutter
Catherine J
CJ
Stewart
Lorraine P
LP
Prestel
Rebecca S
RS
Arsenault
Ned J
NJ
D000293:Adolescent; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002140:California; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D047830:Gulf War; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D012886:Skull / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D047829:Vietnam Conflict