Functional connectivity of resting state EEG and symptom severity in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.
OBJECTIVE
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is thought to be a brain network disorder. This study aimed to examine the resting-state functional connectivity (FC) in patients with PTSD.


METHODS
Thirty-three PTSD patients and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were recruited. Symptom severity of the PTSD patients was assessed, and 62-channel EEG was measured. EEGs were recorded during the resting state, with the eyes closed. Three nodal network measures to assess nodal centrality [nodal degree (Dnodal; connection strength), nodal efficiency (Enodal; communication efficiency), and betweenness centrality (BC; connection centrality)] were calculated in the delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma bands.


RESULTS
Dnodal and Enodal of the beta and gamma bands were decreased in PTSD patients compared to healthy controls. These decreased nodal centrality values were observed primarily at the frontocentral electrodes. In addition, Dnodal of the beta and gamma bands was significantly correlated with depressive symptoms and increased arousal symptoms, respectively. Enodal of the beta and gamma bands was significantly correlated with re-experience, increased arousal, and the severity and frequency of general PTSD symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to controls, patients with PTSD were found to have decreased resting-state FC, and these FC measures were significantly correlated with PTSD symptom severity. Our results suggest that resting-state FC could be a useful biomarker for PTSD.
Department of Psychiatry, Inje University, Ilsan-Paik Hospital, 2240 Daehwa-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang, Republic of Korea; Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, 2240 Daehwa-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: lshpss@paik.ac.kr.
Seung-Hwan
SH
Lee
Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, 2240 Daehwa-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychology, Sogang University, 35 Baekbeom-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Sunkyung
S
Yoon
Clinical Emotion and Cognition Research Laboratory, 2240 Daehwa-dong, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang, Republic of Korea.
Jeong-In
JI
Kim
Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Seung-Hyun
SH
Jin
Department of Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Chun Kee
CK
Chung
D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D058256:Brain Waves / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D055815:Young Adult
Biomarker; EEG; Functional connectivity; PTSD; Resting state