A meta-analysis of structural brain abnormalities in PTSD

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

This series of meta-analyses examined structural abnormalities of the hippocampus and other brain regions in persons with PTSD compared to trauma-exposed and non-exposed control groups. The findings were significantly smaller hippocampal volumes in persons with PTSD compared to controls with and without trauma exposure, but group differences were moderated by MRI methodology, PTSD severity, medication, age and gender. Trauma-exposed persons without PTSD also showed significantly smaller bilateral hippocampal compared to non-exposed controls. Meta-analyses also found significantly smaller left amygdala volumes in adults with PTSD compared to both healthy and trauma-exposed controls, and significantly smaller anterior cingulate cortex compared to trauma-exposed controls. Pediatric samples with PTSD exhibited significantly smaller corpus callosum and frontal lobe volumes compared to controls, but there were no group differences in hippocampal volume. The overall findings suggested a dimensional, developmental psychopathology systems model in which: (1) hippocampal volumetric differences covary with PTSD severity; (2) hippocampal volumetric differences do not become apparent until adulthood; and (3) PTSD is associated with abnormalities in multiple frontal-limbic system structures.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1004-1031
Number of pages28
JournalNeuroscience and biobehavioral reviews
Volume30
Issue number7
Publication statusPublished - 2006
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 16730374
WOS 000241307900007
ORCID /0000-0002-5632-419X/work/142246584
ORCID /0000-0001-8204-5699/work/156335422

Keywords

Keywords

  • meta-analysis, PTSD, hippocampus, MRI, plasticity, memory