title: Reduced cerebellar left hemisphere and vermal volume in adults with PTSD from a community sample.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traumatic events exposure is a necessary condition for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but not all individuals exposed to the same trauma will develop PTSD. Human studies have suggested that the cerebellum is involved in human fear perception, anticipation, and recollection. In this context, the current study evaluated whether cerebellar volume is associated with PTSD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four victims of violence, 42 who fulfilled the DSM-IV-TR criteria for PTSD and 42 resilient controls, were identified through an epidemiologic survey conducted in the city of São Paulo. Subjects were evaluated using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Early Trauma Inventory (ETI). All subjects underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to evaluate their cerebellar hemispheres and vermis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PTSD subjects had relative smaller left hemisphere (p = 0.04) and vermis (p < 0.01) volumes persisted after controlling for gender, age, and brain volume. In PTSD group, left cerebellar hemisphere volume correlated negatively with PTSD (p = 0.01) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.04). Vermal volume correlated negatively with PTSD symptoms (p < 0.01), early traumatic life events (p < 0.01), depressive symptoms (p = 0.04) and anxiety (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cerebellum is involved in emotion modulation, and our results suggest that cerebellar volumetric reduction is associated with mood, anxiety and PTSD symptoms. Early traumatic life experiences are related to vermal volume reduction and may be a risk factor for future PTSD development.
authors.affiliation: Psychiatry, Laboratório Interdisciplinar de Neurociências Clínicas (LiNC), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Brazil. leonardobaldassara@gmail.com
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baldaçara
authors.forename: Andrea P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Jackowski
authors.forename: Aline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schoedl
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pupo
authors.forename: Sergio B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Andreoli
authors.forename: Marcelo F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.forename: Acioly L T
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lacerda
authors.forename: Jair J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Mari
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Bressan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000473:pathology*