title: Inter-hemispheric functional and anatomical connectivity abnormalities in traffic accident-induced PTSD: a study combining fMRI and DTI.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aberrant brain functional and structural changes are considered to be one of the important mechanisms underlying post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, it remains unclear whether inter-hemispheric connection is changed. The current study aimed to identify the inter-hemispheric functional and anatomical connectivity changes in patients who consequently develop PTSD using the voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) analysis and diffusion tractography techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Resting-state fMRI and DTI data were acquired on victims who had experienced traffic accidents within 2 days after the traumatic event. The diagnosis was made using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale at 1 or 6 months later. Fifteen trauma-exposed victims met the criteria for diagnosis of PTSD and 14 trauma-exposed victims who did not develop PTSD at 6 months after trauma were selected as the control group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the victims without PTSD, the victims with PTSD exhibited an abnormal homotopic pattern with decreased VMHC in the superior/middle frontal gyrus before diagnosis. The regions showing abnormal functional connectivity were then chosen as regions of interest for an analysis of DTI tractography. Decreased fractional anisotropy values in the genu of the corpus callosum were found in the victims with PTSD. Greater WM disruptions within 2 days predicted greater symptom severity at diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study was lack of comparison with controls who did not experience a traumatic event.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that the inter-hemispheric functional and structural connectivity is impaired in PTSD within 2 days, which may be the potential marker showing predisposition towards developing PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pu Jian Road, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Ya-wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, Shanghai 200030, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pu Jian Road, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pu Jian Road, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Wei-na
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pu Jian Road, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pu Jian Road, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Jie-qing
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pu Jian Road, Shanghai 200127, China. Electronic address: clare1475@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 600 Wan Ping Nan Road, Shanghai 200030, China. Electronic address: wangzhen@smhc.org.cn.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No. 160 Pu Jian Road, Shanghai 200127, China.
authors.forename: Jian-rong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology*; D000328:Adult; D016880:Anisotropy; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Diffusion tensor imaging; Fiber tractography; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging; Voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity