The whole brain diffusion tensor imaging study on acute phase of the posttraumatic stress disorder resulting from the single-prolonged stress based on tract based spatial statistics

Abstract

Objective To study the changes of the brain white matter microstructure at the acute stage of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from a single-prolonged stress. Methods DTI scans were performed on 17 survivors buried more than 190 h in Shanxi Wangjialing mine disaster and 17 cases of normal controls using Siemens 3.0 T MR.The differences of the FA values measured from the whole brain DTI between the two groups were analyzed based on tract based spatial statistics (TBSS).FA data were statistically compared between the two groups based on nonparametric random permutation test (RPT),and the brain areas of the PTSD patients with abnormal FA were defined. Results Compared with control group,FA values in the PTSD (at acute stage) group decreased in genu,rostral body of corpus callosum,and increased in the left thalamic and corticospinal tract region of bilateral corona radiata and the posterior limb of the left internal capsule,the left cerebral peduncle.The differences were statistically significant (P<0.01 TFCE-corrected). Conclusions TBSS is a comprehensive and accurate method for evaluating the changes of whole brain DTI in PTSD cases.The fiber structural abnormalities in the genu,rostral body of bilateral corpus callosum,anterior radiation of left thalamic may be due to stress.TBSS can provide a more objective basis for the early diagnosis and intervention of PTSD. Key words: Stress disorders,post-traumatic; Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging