title: Resting metabolic activity in the cingulate cortex and vulnerability to posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent neuroimaging research has revealed functional abnormalities in the anterior cingulate cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether resting functional abnormalities found in PTSD are acquired characteristics or familial risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional design including identical twins discordant for trauma exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Combat-exposed veterans with PTSD (n = 14) and their identical co-twins not exposed to combat (n = 14) as well as combat-exposed veterans without PTSD (n = 19) and their identical co-twins not exposed to combat (n = 19).
  
  
  METHODS
  We used positron emission tomography and fluorodeoxyglucose 18 to examine resting regional cerebral metabolic rate for glucose (rCMRglu).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Veterans with PTSD and their co-twins had significantly higher resting rCMRglu in the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex/midcingulate cortex (dACC/MCC) compared with veterans without PTSD and their co-twins. Resting rCMRglu in the dACC/MCC in unexposed co-twins was positively correlated with combat exposure severity, PTSD symptom severity, and alcohol use in their exposed twins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Enhanced resting metabolic activity in the dACC/MCC appears to represent a familial risk factor for developing PTSD after exposure to psychological trauma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Tufts University, 490 Boston Ave, Medford, MA 02155, USA. lisa.shin@tufts.edu
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Natasha B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Lasko
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Macklin
authors.forename: Rachel D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Karpf
authors.forename: Mohammed R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Milad
authors.forename: Scott P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.forename: Jared M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Goetz
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Fischman
authors.forename: Scott L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: Roger K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Pitman
mesh_terms: D000679:Amygdala / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012146:Rest; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose