Bilateral MR volumetry of the amygdala in chronic PTSD patients

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Goran Pavliša
• Author: Jurica Papa
• Author: Ladislav Pavić
• Author: Gordana Pavliša
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences

Abstract (english)

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients experience symptoms which implicate dysfunction of emotional memory circuits, and possible damage of the amygdala. Laterality differences in activity of the amygdala have been reported in PTSD patients, with presumed adaptive plasticity in the hippocampus and the amygdala. The aim of this study was to investigate possible interhemispheric differences of amygdalar volume in chronic PTSD patients, with calculation of right-to-left volume ratios. Bilateral magnetic resonance (MR) volumetry was applied in 11 chronic PTSD patients. The mean right amygdalar volume of our patients was significantly smaller than the left one (p = 0.031), with the right-to-left volume ratio of 0.96 +/- 0.06. This tendency towards smaller right amygdala may be an acquired effect as a result of stress-induced plasticity, however we can not exclude the possibility of a predisposing condition.

Abstract (croatian)

Bolesnici s posttraumatskim stresnim poremećajem (PTSP) imaju simptome koji upućuju na disfunkciju neuronskih krugova emocionalne memorije i na moguće oštećenje amigdala. Različita lateralizacija aktivnosti amigdala opisana je u bolesnika s PTSP-om, s pretpostavkom adaptivnog plasticiteta u hipokampusu i amigdalima. Cilj ove studije bio je istražiti moguće interhemisferične razlike volumena amigdala u bolesnika koji boluju od kroničnog PTSP-a, s izračunavanjem omjera volumena desnih i lijevih amigdala. Obostrana volumetrija magnetskom rezonancom (MR) provedena je u 11 bolesnika s kroničnim PTSP-om. Srednja vrijednost volumena desnih amigdala u naših bolesnika bila je značajno manja nego lijeve strane (p=0.031), s omjerom volumena desnih i lijevih amigdala 0.96±0.06. Ta tendencija prema manjim desnim amigdalima može biti stečena kao rezultat plasticiteta induciranog stresom, međutim ne možemo isključiti mogućnost da se radi o predisponirajućem stanju.

• Keywords (english): Amygdala - pathology; Functional Laterality; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - physiopathology; Adult; Case-Control Studies; Chronic Disease; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Male; Middle Aged; Veterans
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Accepted version
• Journal title: Collegium Antropologicum
• Numbering: vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 565-568
• p-ISSN: 0350-6134
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:074276
• Publication: 2006-12
• Document URL: https://hrcak.srce.hr/2759
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-03-28 10:57:57