Hippocampal volume and declarative memory function in combat-related PTSD.
The proposition that declarative memory deficits are systematically related to smaller hippocampal volume was tested in a relatively large sample (n = 95) of U.S. military veterans with and without combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder. This correlative analysis was extended by including multiple measures of verbal and visual declarative memory and multiple memory-relevant regional brain volumes that had been shown to exhibit main effects of PTSD in prior work. Small-to-moderate effects were observed on verbal declarative memory in line with a recent meta-analysis; nevertheless, little or no evidence of systematic linear covariation between memory measures and brain volumes was observed.
Woodward
Steven H
SH
Dissemination and Training Division, National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. steve.woodward@va.gov
Kaloupek
Danny G
DG
Grande
Laura J
LJ
Stegman
Wendy K
WK
Kutter
Catherine J
CJ
Leskin
Loraine
L
Prestel
Rebecca
R
Schaer
Marie
M
Reiss
Allan L
AL
Eliez
Stephan
S
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001931:Brain Mapping; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications*; D014728:Veterans