Abstract
Although numerous studies have investigated the neurotrophic factors and hippocampal activity in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) separately each other, it is unclear whether an association between neurotrophic factors and hippocampal activity is present. The aim of this study was to evaluate the functional changes in hippocampus before and after treatment with escitalopram and to associate these changes with peptides related to neuronal growth in patients with chronic PTSD and trauma survivors without PTSD. Fifteen earthquake survivors with chronic PTSD and thirteen drug naïve trauma exposed individuals without PTSD underwent fMRI scans in a block design. Serum levels of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) were measured before and after 12 weeks treatment with escitalopram. Baseline median serum level of NGF was significantly lower in patients with chronic PTSD than trauma survivors; however, 12 weeks of treatment with escitalopram significantly increased it. Higher activation was found both in left and right hippocampus for chronic PTSD group than trauma survivors. Treatment with escitalopram was significantly associated with suppression of the hyperactivation in left hippocampus in patients with chronic PTSD. Bilateral hyperactivation in hippocampus and lowered NGF may associate with neurobiological disarrangements in chronic PTSD. Treatment with escitalopram was significantly associated with both improvement in the severity of PTSD symptoms and biological alterations. Patients diagnosed with PTSD may have further and complicated deteriorations in hippocampal networks and neurotransmitter systems than individuals who had not been diagnosed with PTSD following the same traumatic experience.
Highlights
The purpose of the study is to examine whether trauma survivors with and without post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are different in hippocampal activation, circulating Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), and to assess the effect of escitalopram on the mentioned variables in trauma survivors with PTSD
Patients with PTSD and trauma survivors were assessed with the SCID at the baseline, and all patients entering the study were rated with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) at baseline, but only patients with chronic PTSD assessed on week 2, 4, 6, 8 and week 12
We found that changes in NGF and blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signals from both hippocampi were significantly associated with changes in CAPS subscales
Summary
In individuals with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exposure to reminders of the trauma is associated with self-reported distress, changes in peripheral psychophysiologic measures [1,2,3] and increases in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in certain brain areas such as anterior
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
