Development Of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research Articles

Cortical morphological changes and associated transcriptional signatures in post-traumatic stress disorder and psychological resilience.

Individuals who have experienced severe traumatic events are estimated to have a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence rate ranging from 10 to 50%, while those not affected by trauma exposure are often considered to possess psychological resilience. However, the neural mechanisms underlying the development of PTSD, especially resilience after trauma, remain unclear. This study aims to investigate changes of cortical morphometric similarity network (MSN) in PTSD and trauma-exposed healthy individuals (TEHI), as well as the associated molecular alterations in gene expression, providing potential targets for the prevention and intervention of PTSD. We recruited PTSD patients and TEHI who had experienced severe earthquakes, and healthy controls who had not experienced earthquakes. We identified alterations in the whole-brain MSN changes in PTSD and TEHI, and established associations between these changes and brain-wide gene expression patterns from the Allen Human Brain Atlas microarray dataset using partial least squares regression. At the neuroimaging level, we found not only trauma-susceptible changes in TEHI same as those in PTSD, but also unique neurobiological alterations to counteract the deleterious impact of severe trauma. We identified 1444 and 2214 genes transcriptionally related to MSN changes in PTSD and TEHI, respectively. Functional enrichment analysis of weighted gene expression for PTSD and TEHI revealed distinct enrichments in Gene Ontology biological processes and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways. Furthermore, gene expression profiles of astrocytes, excitatory neurons, and microglial cells are highly related to MSN abnormalities in PTSD. The formation of resilience may be by an active compensatory process of the brain. The combination of macroscopic neuroimaging changes and microscopic human brain transcriptomics could offer a more direct and in-depth understanding of the pathogenesis of PTSD and psychological resilience, shedding light on new targets for the prevention and treatment of PTSD.

8663 Sex differences in delayed fear incubation in mice

Abstract Disclosure: M. Littlepage-Saunders: None. M. Rusnak: None. M. Tsuda: None. T. Wu: None. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has a lifetime prevalence of 1 in 13 people. It is not fully understood why some are more vulnerable to developing PTSD whereas others are more resilient. Among those who develop PTSD, about a quarter have delayed-onset PTSD where onset of symptoms occur at 6 months or later after experiencing a traumatic event. While there is recognition of this type of PTSD, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. The development of PTSD is more prevalent in women than men. However, previous preclinical and clinical studies have focused mainly on males. Thus, there lacks an understanding of this sex difference. To enhance our understanding of the causal mechanisms, we designed a study with mice to compare the effect of sex on delayed fear incubation. We expected the female mice to show increased fear responses that would suggest more chronic delayed fear incubation than the male mice. To test this, we evaluated distance travelled, freezing, and latency until the first freezing episode in adult male and female C57Bl/6J mice (7-8 weeks of age; n=8/group) using a delayed fear incubation behavioral assay. Animals were placed in a fear conditioning chamber for a 198 s acclimation period and then administered a single 2 s scrambled footshock of 1.5 mA via the metal grid floor. After an additional 60 s, animals were returned to their home cage. At specific time after shock application, animals underwent a fear recall test where the animals were placed back in the shock chamber for a total of 180 s without any additional footshocks and then returned to their home cage. The study was based on a 2X2 factorial design comprising of sex (male vs female) and recall time (1 day and 14 days post shock). The data showed an increasing freezing trend (p=0.08) at d 14 compared to their recall d 1 counterparts. There was no effect of time or sex on distance travelled or latency until the first freezing episode. Interestingly, female mice showed less freezing when compared to the male mice. Ongoing experiments will look more into circuitry-level changes by comparing neuronal activation through cFos expression in different brain regions that are a part of the limbic system and/or have been associated with fear: the amygdala, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and paraventricular nucleus. Presentation: 6/2/2024

Hormonal status of patients with infertility and post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental disorder that occurs after a psychologically or physically traumatic event, and characterized by three main clusters of posttraumatic symptoms, as well as chronic and significant disturbances in emotion regulation, identity, and relationships. PTSD is more common in women, which suggests a role for the regulation of female sex hormones in its development.The objective: to study the hormonal status of women with infertility and PTSD.Materials and methods. 112 women with infertility were examined, who were divided into groups depending on the PTSD criteria. The I group included 36 women with PTSD criteria, who were diagnosed with infertility before the onset of the traumatic factor, the II group – 31 patients with fertility disorders which were diagnosed on the background of PTSD, the III group – 45 women with infertility and without signs of PTSD, the control group consisted of 50 healthy women who applied for a routine preventive examination.In all patients, on the 3rd–5th day of the menstrual cycle, the concentrations of prolactin, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone were determined in the blood serum, in the saliva – cortisol, on the 21st day of the cycle – in the blood serum progesterone.Results. It was established that in women with infertility that was developed after the traumatic factor, the prolactin content is significantly higher (59.5±18.9 ng/ml) than in other groups of patients with fertility disorders (36.9±12.3 ng/ml in I group, 34.3±17.9 ng/ml – in the III group) and in the group of healthy women (13.5±5.6 ng/ml). The concentration of estradiol in the I group was within the reference values for the follicular phase of the cycle, but significantly lower (23.4±3.6 pg/ml) than in women of the other groups (from 87.6±14.6 pg/ml in the III group to 103.5±27.8 pg/ml in the group of healthy women). The average concentration of progesterone in the I (3.4±2.7 pg/ml) and II (4.1±2.9 pg/ml) groups was within the reference values, but was probably lower than that of healthy women (23.6±4.9 pg/ml), as well as women with infertility without signs of PTSD (19.4±5.1 pg/ml).In this study the patients with infertility which has developed on the background of PTSD had LH values within the reference normal range (2.0±0.5 U/L), but several times lower than in women with other reasons of infertility (12.0±3.6 U/l – in women with infertility before the development of PTSD, 6.0±1.9 U/l – in women with infertility without PTSD criteria) and in healthy women (9.2±3.4 U/l).An increased level of testosterone beyond the reference values was found only in women of the II group (3.3±1.9 nmol/l), in the other groups the average testosterone concentration ranged from 1.3±0.6 nmol/l in healthy women to 1.5±0.9 nmol/l in the I group and 1.8±0.7 nmol/l in women with infertility without signs of PTSD. Patients with PTSD are characterized by an increased level of cortisol in saliva, which indicates a prolonged reaction of the body to the trauma (8.8±0.3 ng/ml – in the I group, 10.3±0.4 ng/ml – in the II group), in groups without PTSD the level of this hormone in saliva was almost twice as low (5.4±0.2 ng/ml – in the III group and 5.9±0.3 ng/ml – in healthy women).Conclusions. 1. The patients with PTSD and infertility are characterized by high concentrations of cortisol in saliva and a decreased progesterone level in blood serum.2. In patients who had fertility disorders before a stressful event, a decreased estrogen concentration and an increased luteinizing hormone level were found in blood serum, which indicates endocrine disorders as a cause of infertility.3. Prolactin and testosterone levels were found to be higher in the patients with infertility that was developed after a traumatic event than in other women with reproductive function disorders. Both factors are pathogenetically related to the pathological reaction to stress.

Sociodemographic factors and its correlation with schema modes and PTSD among orthopedic trauma survivors

ObjectiveThe study aimed to examine the correlation between sociodemographic factors, schema modes, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in individual who have experienced trauma. MethodA total of 137 patients participated in the study, including 104 men, and 33 women. The Urdu- translated Schema Mode Inventory and the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS for DSM-5) were used. ResultsThe study found significant positive correlation between demographic factors such as age, gender, education, economic status, and type of injury with PTSD symptoms in orthopedic trauma survivors. The results further indicated, that gender (both male and female), level of education, and socio-economic status were significantly positive associated with PTSD symptoms. While, 50.7 % of patients with closed fractures and 62.1 % of those with open fractures showed PTSD symptoms, no clear association was found between PTSD symptoms and the type of trauma experienced. Additionally, female patients showed significantly higher PTSD symptoms than male. The finding also revealed that child mode, and maladaptive punitive parents had significant impact on PTSD development, whereas, maladaptive coping styles and adaptive schemas had no influence on PTSD symptoms.Moreover, patients with grade-I fractures and intentional injuries showed significantly higher maladaptive schema modes. ConclusionThe study concluded that demographic characteristics, such as gender, education and socioeconomic status play an important role in development of PTSD symptoms in orthopaedic trauma survivors. In addition, maladaptive schema modes significantly contribute to PTSD symptoms, while coping styles and adaptive schema modes have no impact.

Investigating the Prevalence of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Patients Who Have Recovered From COVID-19

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients who have recovered from COVID-19. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 97 individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 and had a history of hospitalization were selected using a cluster sampling method. Data was collected through demographic questionnaires created by the researcher. The studied variables were first analyzed using descriptive statistical methods, followed by appropriate statistical tests to examine the relationships between variables. A significance level of less than 0.05 was considered for all tests. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 21 statistical software. Results: The average PTSD score was severe in 48% of the recovered patients. Regression results indicated that variables such as age, education, marital status, occupation, and illness positively affected the development of PTSD. The relationship between PTSD and age was direct, with men having higher average PTSD scores than women. Additionally, individuals with lower levels of education were more likely to exhibit PTSD. Married individuals showed higher rates of PTSD than others. Retired individuals had higher PTSD scores compared to those in other occupations. However, no statistically significant relationship was found between PTSD and physical or mental illness (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Based on the results, at least half of the individuals who faced COVID-19 are at risk of psychological effects and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Timely counseling and treatment services may prevent potential long-term consequences.

Influencing factors of posttraumatic stress disorder in Shidu parents who have lost their only child: a cross-sectional survey

BackgroundIn China, parents who have lost their only child are referred to as Shidu parents (SDPs). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and investigate the influence of depressive and anxiety symptoms on the development of PTSD.MethodFour hundred and thirty-six SDPs completed assessments of PTSD (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Disorders, SCID-IV; The Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale-IV, CAPS-IV), depression (Hamilton depression scale), and anxiety (Hamilton Anxiety Scale) via in-person interviews. Logistic regression and hierarchical multiple linear regression analyses were used to explore the association of demographic characteristics, depression, and anxiety symptoms with PTSD.ResultsThe prevalence of PTSD in SDPs was 14.45%. The comorbidity of depression and anxiety symptoms was 87.30% in the SDPs with PTSD. The logistic regression model, which included factors of gender, age, education, depression, and anxiety, which contributed to the development of PTSD, was significant [χ² (11) = 122.47, p < 0.001]. The hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis indicated that female gender and the severity of comorbidities (depression and anxiety) were positively associated with the severity of PTSD.ConclusionThis study found that the severity of depression and anxiety was closely related to the severity of PTSD, supporting that SDPs are highly prone to the co-occurrence of PTSD, depression, and anxiety after bereavement. Our findings may provide more insights into the development of individualized interventions for parents who have experienced the loss of their only child.

Posttraumatic stress disorder in refugees and therapeutic interventions based on cognitive behavioral approach: A systematic review

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is connected with the experience of traumatic events and is significantly related to war and forced displacement. Refugee populations are characterized by a high degree of vulnerability for the development of PTSD, as they are confronted with stressors associated with all three distinct phases of migratory journey. The present article is an attempt to systematic review the therapeutic interventions based on the Cognitive Behavioral Approach and applied to refugees diagnosed with PTSD. For this reason, a review of the international literature was carried out through the electronic databases: Google Scholar, PubMed and Science Direct. Forty (40) studies were identified, of which 16 met the inclusion criteria. According to the results of the review, the most common interventions are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Readaptation (EMDR). More specifically, CBT helps the individual to understand and reexamine the negative thoughts and feelings caused by the traumatic event, resulting in a reduction of symptoms and an improvement in quality of life. Following, NET supports that when a person talks about the traumatic events by placing them in a chronological continuity, they can gradually redefine the negative associations and responses related with the trauma. Finally, EMDR focuses on memory and how memories are stored in the brain. Its purpose is to reduce the intensity of the emotions associated with the traumatic event when it is recalled. All of those three approaches appear to have been studied and to yield reliable results. Other forms of therapeutic interventions are limited due to methodological issues as well as due to adopting standardized approaches that do not allow for an in depth understanding of trauma in refugee population. Further investigation of the long-term symptoms of trauma in refugees is suggested, in order to draw firm conclusions.

Ketamine alleviates PTSD-like effect and improves hippocampal synaptic plasticity via regulation of GSK-3β/GR signaling of rats

BackgroundEach year, 3–4% of the global population experiences post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a chronic mental disorder with significant social and economic repercussions. Although it has been shown that ketamine can effectively alleviate PTSD symptoms in individuals, the specific mechanism of action underlying its anti-PTSD effects remains unclear. In this study, we investigated how a single, low dose of ketamine affected the glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β)/glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling pathway in a single prolonged stress (SPS)-induced PTSD rat model. MethodsAfter establishing the model, stress-related behavioral alterations in the rats were assessed following intraperitoneal injections of ketamine (10 mg/kg) and GSK-3β antagonist SB216763 (5 mg/kg). In the hippocampus, alterations in the expression of specific proteins implicated in PTSD development, such as GR, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), GSK-3β, and phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-GSK-3β), were assessed. We also measured changes in the mRNA expression levels of GR, BDNF, GSK-3β, FK501 binding protein 51 (FKBP5), and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), as well as synaptic ultrastructure, in the hippocampus, and measured changes in corticosterone levels in the blood. ResultsSPS induced anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors in rats and induced morphological changes in synapse, which were accompanied by higher GSK-3β protein expression and conversely, decreased expression of GR, BDNF, p-GSK-3β, FKBP5 and CRH. Intraperitoneal administration of ketamine (10 mg/kg) after SPS prevented SPS-induced anxiety-like behaviors. Most importantly, ketamine attenuated SPS-induced dysfunctions in GSK-3β/GR signaling and synaptic deficits. Furthermore, treatment with a GSK-3β inhibitor played the same effect as ketamine on behavioral changes of SPS model rats. ConclusionSingle doses of ketamine effectively ameliorate SPS-induced anxiety-like symptoms, potentially by improving synaptic plastic in the hippocampus by regulating GSK-3β/GR signaling.

Protective and vulnerability personality traits associated with PTSD diagnosis after preterm delivery.

Giving birth prematurely is a traumatic event that has many consequences for the mother but also for her baby and their family. Studies have shown that about a quarter of these mothers will suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result. This study aims to identify internal personality factors associated with the development of PTSD in mothers who gave birth before 33 weeks. The results revealed significant correlations between two personality dimensions (neuroticism and extraversion) and the likeliness of developing PTSD in mothers who gave birth prematurely. Neuroticism is positively liked with the disorder while extraversion is negatively correlated with it. Studies should now focus on early detection of PTSD and better interventions for these mothers.

Serum cortisol and neuroticism for post-traumatic stress disorder over 2 years in patients with physical injuries.

This study aimed to explore the relationships between serum cortisol levels, personality traits, and the development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) over 2 years among individuals with physical injuries. Participants were consecutively recruited from a trauma center and followed prospectively for 2 years. At baseline, serum cortisol levels were measured, and personality traits were categorized into five dimensions (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, and Openness), using the Big Five Inventory-10. The diagnosis of PTSD during follow-up (at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-injury) was determined using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5. Binary and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the interactions between cortisol levels, personality traits, and PTSD development. Among 923 patients analyzed, 112 (12.1%) were diagnosed with PTSD at some point during the study period, with prevalence rates decreasing from 8.8% at 3 months to 3.7% at 24 months post-injury. Direct associations between cortisol levels or personality traits and PTSD were not observed. However, a significant interaction between lower cortisol levels and higher Neuroticism in relation to PTSD risk was identified, especially during the early follow-up periods (3 to 6 months), but this association waned from the 12-month follow-up onward. Our findings reveal Neuroticism-dependent associations between serum cortisol levels and PTSD development, exhibiting temporal variations. These results suggest that PTSD development may be influenced by a complex, time-sensitive interplay of biological and psychosocial factors, underscoring the importance of considering individual differences in stress reactivity and personality in PTSD research and treatment.

Peritraumatic Dissociation Partially Mediates the Influence of Lifetime Trauma Exposure on Prospective PTSD Symptoms

ABSTRACT Higher lifetime trauma exposure and increased peritraumatic dissociation (PD) are well-known predictors of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms following new trauma (prospective PTSD symptoms). The interplay between those factors, however, is not well established. In this study, we aimed to assess whether PD mediates the influence of lifetime trauma exposure on prospective PTSD symptoms. A total of 387 adults visiting five emergency departments who had experienced a traumatic event within 72 hours completed baseline assessments on lifetime trauma exposure count and PD. PTSD symptoms were assessed 1 month later. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the mediation effect of PD in the relationship between lifetime trauma exposure count and 1-month PTSD symptoms. We found that PD mediated the association between lifetime trauma exposure count and 1-month PTSD symptoms, even after accounting for some confounders. However, the mediation was partial, accounting for 17.9% of the lifetime trauma exposure count’s total effect. While this finding is significant, it also suggests that additional mechanisms beyond PD play a role in explaining the influence of higher lifetime trauma exposure on prospective PTSD symptoms. These findings provide valuable insights into the complex dynamics of PTSD development and call for further research to explore complementary factors and preventive strategies.

Distinct saliva DNA methylation profiles in relation to treatment outcome in youth with posttraumatic stress disorder

In youth with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) non-response rates after treatment are often high. Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation (DNAm) have previously been linked to PTSD pathogenesis, additionally DNAm may affect response to (psychological) therapies. Besides investigating the direct link between DNAm and treatment response, it might be helpful to investigate the link between DNAm and previously associated biological mechanisms with treatment outcome. Thereby gaining a deeper molecular understanding of how psychotherapy (reflecting a change in the environment) relates to epigenetic changes and the adaptability of individuals. To date, limited research is done in clinical samples and no studies have been conducted in youth. Therefore we conducted a study in a Dutch cohort of youth with and without PTSD (n = 87, age 8–18 years). We examined the cross-sectional and longitudinal changes of saliva-based genome-wide DNA methylation (DNAm) levels, and salivary cortisol secretion. The last might reflect possible abbreviations on the hypothalamic–pituitary– adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA-axis is previously linked to DNAm and the development and recovery of PTSD. Youth were treated with 8 sessions of either Eye Movement Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) or Trauma Focused Cognitive behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). Our epigenome wide approach showed distinct methylation between treatment responders and non-responders on C18orf63 gene post-treatment. This genomic region is related to the PAX5 gene, involved in neurodevelopment and inflammation response. Additionally, our targeted approach indicated that there were longitudinal DNAm changes in successfully treated youth at the CRHR2 gene. Methylation at this gene was further correlated with cortisol secretion pre- and post-treatment. Awaiting replication, findings of this first study in youth point to molecular pathways involved in stress response and neuroplasticity to be associated with treatment response.

Delayed effects of alcohol consumption on the association between serum BDNF levels and post-traumatic stress disorder development over two-years

BackgroundsThis study aimed to examine the individual and combined effects of serum BDNF (sBDNF) levels and alcohol consumption status, assessed shortly after a physical injury, on the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over two years. MethodsParticipants were consecutively recruited from a trauma center and followed prospectively for two years. At baseline, sBDNF levels and alcohol consumption history were assessed. A range of socio-demographic and clinical covariates were also collected. PTSD diagnosis during follow-up (3, 6, 12, and 24 months post-injury) was established using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5. Binary and multinomial logistic regression analyses were employed to investigate the relationships between sBDNF levels, alcohol consumption status, and PTSD onset. ResultsOut of 923 participants analyzed, 112 (12.1%) developed PTSD at some point during the study, with prevalence rates of 8.8% at 3 months, 7.6% at 6 months, 4.8% at 12 months, and 3.7% at 24 months. The study found no individual associations between sBDNF levels or alcohol consumption status and PTSD development. However, lower sBDNF levels significantly predicted PTSD in individuals who consumed alcohol, a relationship not observed in non-drinkers, with significant interaction terms. This pattern was consistent at later follow-up points from 12 to 24 months, but not at earlier assessments at 3 and 6 months. LimitationsThe study's reliance on participants from a single trauma center with moderate to severe injuries may limit the generalizability of the findings. ConclusionsA significant interaction between sBDNF levels and alcohol consumption in relation to PTSD development was observed, particularly in the long term. These findings highlight the necessity of considering both sBDNF levels and alcohol consumption in strategies aimed at preventing PTSD among individuals with physical injuries, underscoring the need for tailored approaches based on these factors.

New recognition of the heart-brain axis and its implication in the pathogenesis and treatment of PTSD.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex psychological disorder provoked by distressing experiences, and it remains without highly effective intervention strategies. The exploration of PTSD's underlying mechanisms is crucial for advancing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Current studies primarily explore PTSD through the lens of the central nervous system, investigating concrete molecular alterations in the cerebral area and neural circuit irregularities. However, the body's response to external stressors, particularly the changes in cardiovascular function, is often pronounced, evidenced by notable cardiac dysfunction. Consequently, examining PTSD with a focus on cardiac function is vital for the early prevention and targeted management of the disorder. This review undertakes a comprehensive literature analysis to detail the alterations in brain and heart structures and functions associated with PTSD. It also synthesizes potential mechanisms of heart-brain axis interactions relevant to the development of PTSD. Ultimately, by considering cardiac function, this review proposes novel perspectives for PTSD's prophylaxis and therapy.

Assessment of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Risk Factors Among Law Enforcement Staff: A Case-Control Study

Background: Given the inherent nature of their job, law enforcement staff regularly confront major stressors. Objectives: The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among law enforcement staff is about twice that of the general population. We conducted this study to assess PTSD risk factors among this population. Methods: This prospective case-control study was conducted on patients with PTSD working as law enforcement staff as the case group, and their comrades with no PTSD as the control group. We used a questionnaire, including possible factors contributing to the development of PTSD, to gather the data. Binomial logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals. Results: A total of 84 participants were included in the study. We found that some factors could be protective against PTSD, including marriage (OR: 0.270, 95% CI: 0.087 - 0.839, P-value: 0.024), having an academic degree (OR: 0.333, 95% CI: 0.114 - 0.978, P-value: 0.045), higher income (R2: 0.081; OR: 0.849, 95% CI: 0.721 - 1.000, P-value: 0.050), and receiving satisfactory family support (OR: 0.413, 95% CI: 0.171 - 0.999, P-value: 0.050). Furthermore, logistic regression showed that a positive psychological history (OR: 2.562, 95% CI: 1.025 - 6.406, P-value: 0.044), a positive familial psychological history (OR: 2.667, 95% CI: 1.099 - 6.406, P-value: 0.030), and encountering trauma (aside from the current trauma) after 18 years of age (OR: 2.643, 95% CI: 1.038 - 6.731, P-value: 0.041) are risk factors for PTSD. Conclusions: Our results showed that marriage, having an academic degree, higher income, and receiving satisfactory family support are protective factors. In addition, the risk factors for PTSD include a positive psychological history, a positive familial psychological history, and encountering trauma (aside from the current trauma) after 18 years of age. However, given our limitations, further studies should be conducted before drawing solid conclusions.

Posttraumatic stress disorder in the aftermath of the Turkey earthquake: exploring the role of demographics, level of exposure, and personality traits

ABSTRACT Background and Objectives Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an important mental disorder that can develop after mass traumas such as earthquakes. In our study, we aimed to investigate the development of PTSD after the Turkey earthquake (6 February 2023) and its association with some demographic variables, personality traits, and psychological vulnerability. Method 547 participants completed assessments of personality, disaster exposure, and PTSD symptoms. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify predictors of PTSD symptoms. Results PTSD scores were higher in women, single people, those with low educational level, those who witnessed someone else's injury or death, those who were injured, and those whose homes were destroyed. Physical injury, conscientiousness, marital status, income, and agreeableness predicted PTSD. Among these variables, physical injury was the strongest predictor of PTSD. Conclusions Psychological vulnerability, conscientiousness, physical injury, employment, witnessing someone else's injury, gender, and emotional stability predicted PTSD score in a significant way. Physical injury, conscientiousness, marital status, income, agreeableness predicted PTSD in a significant way.

Social Determinants of Mental Health for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Recognizing and addressing the social determinants of mental health (SDoMH) for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is essential for the effective practice of psychiatry. Experiencing traumatic events and subsequent development of PTSD profoundly affects individuals, families, and society, making it one of the most common mental health disorders with substantial psychiatric comorbidity. This article delves into the bidirectional aspects of the SDoMH in PTSD and reviews the diagnostic criteria, prevalence rates, and repercussions of PTSD on both an individual level and within society. PTSD assessment, interventions, and treatment are reviewed, including Prolonged Exposure, Cognitive Processing Therapy, Eye Movement, Desensitization and Reprocessing, trauma-focused and grief therapy. Primary prevention of PTSD, public health considerations, and positive psychiatry tenets are reviewed. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2024;54(7):e209–e215.]

Minimizing Survey Questions for PTSD Prediction Following Acute Trauma.

Traumatic experiences have the potential to give rise to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a debilitating psychiatric condition associated with impairments in both social and occupational functioning. There has been great interest in utilizing machine learning approaches to predict the development of PTSD in trauma patients from clinician assessment or survey-based psychological assessments. However, these assessments require a large number of questions, which is time consuming and not easy to administer. In this paper, we aim to predict PTSD development of patients 3 months post-trauma from multiple survey-based assessments taken within 2 weeks post-trauma. Our objective is to minimize the number of survey questions that patients need to answer while maintaining the prediction accuracy from the full surveys. We formulate this as a feature selection problem and consider 4 different feature selection approaches. We demonstrate that it is possible to achieve up to 72% accuracy for predicting the 3-month PTSD diagnosis from 10 survey questions using a mean decrease in impurity-based feature selector followed by a gradient boosting classifier.

Risk factors for PTSD symptoms following PICU admission for childhood septic shock.

ObjectivePaediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission represents a traumatic event for many children. Follow-up studies have found post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rates of 10-30%, with a particular prevalence following admission for sepsis. Dysregulated inflammatory responses are associated with PTSD. Sepsis involves a marked inflammatory response but the relationship between this and PTSD have not been clearly established. In this study we investigate associations between the inflammatory response, psychosocial risk factors, and PTS symptoms following PICU admission for septic shock.We investigate the outcomes for children aged > 3 years, discharged from one PICU following admission for septic shock between 2010 and 2017. The study was a retrospective analysis of PICU-specific PTS symptoms reported by parents at any time since discharge via the Trauma and Behavior Health screen. Demographics, pre-morbid health characteristics, and exposure to other traumatic events were assessed. Clinical characteristics and blood test results at admission and at 48 h were recorded from clinical records. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate relationships between PTS symptom scores and predictor variables.Data for 65 participants (48% male, median assessment age 8.0 years) was available. Median time since admission was 5.1 years. 30.8% children scored at risk of PTSD at any time since discharge Symptoms were significantly associated with acute CRP rise (p 0.03), other trauma exposures (p = 0.01), and female gender (p =0.04).PTS symptoms in children who have survived septic shock are prevalent. These findings support a possible contribution of acute inflammatory changes, cumulative traumatic exposure, and female gender in post-PICU PTSD development.

Inhibition of Protein Synthesis Attenuates Formation of Traumatic Memory and Normalizes Fear-Induced c-Fos Expression in a Mouse Model of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychosomatic condition characterized by impairment of brain fear circuits and persistence of exceptionally strong associative memories resistant to extinction. In this study, we investigated the neural and behavioral consequences of inhibiting protein synthesis, a process known to suppress the formation of conventional aversive memories, in an established PTSD animal model based on contextual fear conditioning in mice. Control animals were subjected to the conventional fear conditioning task. Utilizing c-Fos neural activity mapping, we found that the retrieval of PTSD and normal aversive memories produced activation of an overlapping set of brain structures. However, several specific areas, such as the infralimbic cortex and the paraventricular thalamic nucleus, showed an increase in the PTSD group compared to the normal aversive memory group. Administration of protein synthesis inhibitor before PTSD induction disrupted the formation of traumatic memories, resulting in behavior that matched the behavior of mice with usual aversive memory. Concomitant with this behavioral shift was a normalization of brain c-Fos activation pattern matching the one observed in usual fear memory. Our findings demonstrate that inhibiting protein synthesis during traumatic experiences significantly impairs the development of PTSD in a mouse model. These data provide insights into the neural underpinnings of protein synthesis-dependent traumatic memory formation and open prospects for the development of new therapeutic strategies for PTSD prevention.