The altered topology of brain structural network in patients with acute stress response after traffic accident

Abstract

Objective: To explore the changes of brain activities in traffic accident survivors with acute stress response (ASR) within a week by using complex networks analysis method based on graph-theory, and to find out the alteration of topological properties in structural brain network. Method: From January, 2013 to February, 2016, twenty traffic accidents survivors with acute stress disorders (Acute Stress Disorder Interview, ASDI>3)and twenty healthy controls underwent the 3T diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) magnetic resonance imaging scan in Nanjing General Hospital.The graph-theory analysis method was used to compare the structural brain network properties and nodal features between ASR survivors and controls.Statistical analyses were also performed by including anxiety and depression as covariates to evaluate their effect.In additional, Pearson correlation was performed between abnormal parametric values and clinical indices. Results: (1) The brain structural networks had small-world properties in both groups; (2) while compared with healthy controls, patients with ASR showed increased weighted connectivity strength (Si, 1.36±0.47 vs 0.92±0.38, P=0.008) and nodal betweenness centrality (BCi, 20±15 vs 7±6, P=0.002) in left triangular part of inferior frontal (IFG triang_L), increased Si in orbital part of inferior frontal gyrus (1.10±0.31 vs 0.77±0.30, P=0.004) and obviously decreased Si in left caudate (0.75±0.24 vs 1.04±0.35, P=0.004); (3) furthermore, the inclusion of anxiety and depression as covariates abolished nodal parameters differences in IFG triang_L, left caudate, thalamus and inferior temporal gyrus. Conclusions: The brain structure network in ASR patients has small world properties.But nodal parameters change obviously in some nodes compared with healthy controls and mainly locate in prefrontal lobe and striatum. High levels of anxiety and depression in ASR patients may partly account for these alterations.