Gray matter density in limbic and paralimbic cortices is associated with trauma load and EMDR outcome in PTSD patients

Davide Nardo*, Göran Högberg, Jeffrey Chee Leong Looi, Stig Larsson, Tore Hällström, Marco Pagani

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    114 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    There is converging evidence of gray matter (GM) structural alterations in different limbic structures in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate GM density in PTSD in relation to trauma load, and to assess the GM differences between responders (R) and non-responders (NR) to EMDR therapy. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans of 21 subjects exposed to occupational trauma, who developed PTSD (S), and of 22 who did not (NS), were compared by means of an optimized Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) analysis as implemented in SPM. Within S, further comparisons were made between 10 R and 5 NR. A regression analysis between GM density and the Traumatic Antecedents Questionnaire (TAQ) was also performed on all 43 subjects. Results showed a significantly lower GM density in S as compared to NS in the left posterior cingulate and the left posterior parahippocampal gyrus. Moreover, NR showed a significantly lower GM density as compared to R in bilateral posterior cingulate, as well as anterior insula, anterior parahippocampal gyrus and amygdala in the right hemisphere. Regression analysis showed that GM density negatively correlated with trauma load in bilateral posterior cingulate, left anterior insula, and right anterior parahippocampal gyrus. In conclusion, a GM lower density in limbic and paralimbic cortices were found to be associated with PTSD diagnosis, trauma load, and EMDR treatment outcome, suggesting a view of PTSD characterized by memory and dissociative disturbances.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)477-485
    Number of pages9
    JournalJournal of Psychiatric Research
    Volume44
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - May 2010

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Gray matter density in limbic and paralimbic cortices is associated with trauma load and EMDR outcome in PTSD patients'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this