M K Dahlgren1, L M Laifer1, M B VanElzakker1, R Offringa1, K C Hughes2, L K Staples-Bradley3, S J Dubois4, N B Lasko5, C A Hinojosa1, S P Orr5, R K Pitman5, L M Shin1. 1. Department of Psychology,Tufts University,Medford, MA,USA. 2. Department of Epidemiology,Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health,Boston, MA,USA. 3. Psychology Department,University of California Los Angeles,Los Angeles, CA,USA. 4. University of New England,Portland, ME,USA. 5. Department of Psychiatry,Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School,Boston, MA,USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown relatively diminished medial prefrontal cortex activation and heightened psychophysiological responses during the recollection of personal events in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the origin of these abnormalities is unknown. Twin studies provide the opportunity to determine whether such abnormalities reflect familial vulnerabilities, result from trauma exposure, or are acquired characteristics of PTSD. METHODS: In this case-control twin study, 26 male identical twin pairs (12 PTSD; 14 non-PTSD) discordant for PTSD and combat exposure recalled and imagined trauma-unrelated stressful and neutral life events using a standard script-driven imagery paradigm during functional magnetic resonance imaging and concurrent skin conductance measurement. RESULTS: Diminished activation in the medial prefrontal cortex during Stressful v. Neutral script-driven imagery was observed in the individuals with PTSD, relative to other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Diminished medial prefrontal cortex activation during Stressful v. Neutral script-driven imagery may be an acquired characteristic of PTSD. If replicated, this finding could be used prospectively to inform diagnosis and the assessment of treatment response.
BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown relatively diminished medial prefrontal cortex activation and heightened psychophysiological responses during the recollection of personal events in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the origin of these abnormalities is unknown. Twin studies provide the opportunity to determine whether such abnormalities reflect familial vulnerabilities, result from trauma exposure, or are acquired characteristics of PTSD. METHODS: In this case-control twin study, 26 male identical twin pairs (12 PTSD; 14 non-PTSD) discordant for PTSD and combat exposure recalled and imagined trauma-unrelated stressful and neutral life events using a standard script-driven imagery paradigm during functional magnetic resonance imaging and concurrent skin conductance measurement. RESULTS: Diminished activation in the medial prefrontal cortex during Stressful v. Neutral script-driven imagery was observed in the individuals with PTSD, relative to other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Diminished medial prefrontal cortex activation during Stressful v. Neutral script-driven imagery may be an acquired characteristic of PTSD. If replicated, this finding could be used prospectively to inform diagnosis and the assessment of treatment response.
Authors: Margaret R Bauer; Anna M Ruef; Suzanne L Pineles; Sandra J Japuntich; Michael L Macklin; Natasha B Lasko; Scott P Orr Journal: Psychol Assess Date: 2013-07-01
Authors: Jennifer C Britton; K Luan Phan; Stephan F Taylor; Lorraine M Fig; Israel Liberzon Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2005-04-15 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Michael B VanElzakker; M Kathryn Dahlgren; F Caroline Davis; Stacey Dubois; Lisa M Shin Journal: Neurobiol Learn Mem Date: 2013-12-07 Impact factor: 2.877
Authors: D P Bernstein; L Fink; L Handelsman; J Foote; M Lovejoy; K Wenzel; E Sapareto; J Ruggiero Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 1994-08 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Ruth A Lanius; Peter C Williamson; James Hopper; Maria Densmore; Kristine Boksman; Madhulika A Gupta; Robert W J Neufeld; Joseph S Gati; Ravi S Menon Journal: Biol Psychiatry Date: 2003-02-01 Impact factor: 13.382
Authors: Elisabeth K Webb; Ashley A Huggins; Emily L Belleau; Lauren E Taubitz; Jessica L Hanson; Terri A deRoon-Cassini; Christine L Larson Journal: Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging Date: 2020-03-28
Authors: M Alexandra Kredlow; Robert J Fenster; Emma S Laurent; Kerry J Ressler; Elizabeth A Phelps Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology Date: 2021-09-20 Impact factor: 7.853
Authors: Adriana Lori; Katharina Schultebraucks; Isaac Galatzer-Levy; Nikolaos P Daskalakis; Seyma Katrinli; Alicia K Smith; Amanda J Myers; Ryan Richholt; Matthew Huentelman; Guia Guffanti; Stefan Wuchty; Felicia Gould; Philip D Harvey; Charles B Nemeroff; Tanja Jovanovic; Ekaterina S Gerasimov; Jessica L Maples-Keller; Jennifer S Stevens; Vasiliki Michopoulos; Barbara O Rothbaum; Aliza P Wingo; Kerry J Ressler Journal: Neuropsychopharmacology Date: 2021-06-29 Impact factor: 8.294