Abnormality of the corpus callosum in coalmine gas explosion-related posttraumatic stress disorder.

Yang Zhang,Huabing Li,Wen Qin,Xu Lang,Chuanjun Zhuo,Quan Zhang,Allan Siegel

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0121095

Abstract

Abnormal corpus callosum (CC) has been reported in childhood trauma-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); however, the nature of white matter (WM) integrity alterations in the CC of young adult-onset PTSD patients is unknown. In this study, 14 victims of a coal mine gas explosion with PTSD and 23 matched coal miners without experiencing the coal mine explosion were enrolled. The differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) within 7 sub-regions of the CC were compared between the two groups. Compared to the controls, PTSD coal miners exhibited significantly reduced FA values in the anterior sub-regions of the CC (P < 0.05, Bonferroni-corrected), which mainly interconnect the bilateral frontal cortices. Our findings indicated that the anterior part of the CC was more severely impaired than the posterior part in young adult-onset PTSD, which suggested the patterns of CC impairment may depend on the developmental stage of the structure when the PTSD occurs.

Highlights

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic, debilitating psychiatric disorder that is characterized by symptoms of re-experiencing, hyperarousal, and avoidance
There were no significant correlations between the fractional anisotropy (FA) values of any of the TOIs or ROIs and the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) scores in the PTSD group
There was no significant correlation between the FA values of the corpus callosum (CC) and PTSD symptoms in this study

Summary

Introduction

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic, debilitating psychiatric disorder that is characterized by symptoms of re-experiencing, hyperarousal, and avoidance. PTSD typically occurs in individuals who have experienced fear, helplessness, or horror following threat of injury or death [1]. Many neuroimaging studies have found differences in brain structures [2] and functions [3] between individuals with and without PTSD. The most consistent finding in terms of WM structures has been the association between childhood trauma-induced PTSD and decreased volume or fractional anisotropy (FA) values in the corpus callosum (CC). Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has revealed reduced FA values in the genu and body of the CC in childhood trauma-induced PTSD in adolescents [9] and in PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0121095. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has revealed reduced FA values in the genu and body of the CC in childhood trauma-induced PTSD in adolescents [9] and in PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0121095 March 23, 2015

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion