Resting metabolic activity in the cingulate cortex and vulnerability to posttraumatic stress disorder.

Full Abstract

CONTEXT: 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. DESIGN: Cross-sectional design including identical twins discordant for trauma exposure. SETTING: Academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: 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). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: 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.

Author information

Author/s: Shin, Lisa M (LM); Lasko, Natasha B (NB); Macklin, Michael L (ML); Karpf, Rachel D (RD); Milad, Mohammed R (MR); Orr, Scott P (SP); Goetz, Jared M (JM); Fischman, Alan J (AJ); Rauch, Scott L (SL); Pitman, Roger K (RK);

Affiliation: Department of Psychology, Tufts University, 490 Boston Ave, Medford, MA 02155, USA. lisa.shin(-atsign-)tufts.edu

Grants: R01MH54636 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Journal: Archives of general psychiatry (Arch Gen Psychiatry), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 66 (issue 10) : pp 1099-107

Dates: Created 2009/10/06; Completed 2009/10/13;

PMID: 19805700, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/13/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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