War-related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research Articles

(Why?) Evidence-Based Treatments for War-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Any war increases at least twice the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in its victims. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects about 10% of car accident victims, half of the people who have experienced rape or war, and victims of violence. PTSD negatively affects the quality of life. It is associated with direct and indirect health costs. Any effort to treat and prevent PTSD with evidence-based methods is our obligation toward trauma victims and to professionals at an increased risk of job-related traumatization. In the paper, we will focus on three aspects. First – a rationale of decision making – the role of evidence in elaborating the intervention guidelines will be described. Second, an overview of evidence-based guidelines for the psychological help and for the diagnosis and treatment of PTSD will be presented, according to current NICE (National Institute of Care Excellence) and APA (American Psychological Association) and meta-analyses focusing on war-related trauma. The third part of the paper will be devoted to the prevention of PTSD in people who are exposed to professional, duty-related trauma – the data on the efficacy of preventive interventions together with a short description of the programs (on the example of “Effective performance under stress” program designed to prevent PTSD in firefighters and other professions).

Validation of the Ukrainian caregiver-report version of the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS) in children and adolescents in Ukraine.

Emerging research indicates that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to an increased prevalence of war-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents. The current study sought to test the psychometric properties of a Ukrainian-translated measure of PTSD for children and adolescents; the Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS; Sachser et al., 2017). Participants were an opportunistic sample of N = 2,004 parents living in Ukraine who provided data on themselves and one target child in their household as part of The Mental Health of Parents and Children in Ukraine Study. The latent structure of the parent-reported CATS was tested using confirmatory factor analysis, composite reliability estimates were estimated, and criterion validity was assessed. The latent structure of the parent-reported CATS was best reflected by a three-factor model and a four-factor model in the preschool and child and adolescent samples, respectively. Estimates of internal reliability were high for both samples. Criterion validity was supported through associations with external measures of internalizing, externalizing, and attention problems. Parent-report child milestone development delays and prior psychological or pharmacological support were associated with higher average scores on the CATS symptom scales. The prevalence of probable PTSD for the preschool sample was 15.4% (n = 77) and the prevalence of probable PTSD for the child and adolescent sample was 14.4% (n = 217). This study supports the psychometric properties of the Ukrainian parent-reported CATS which can be used routinely in clinical practice for the caregiver-rated assessment of PTSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Coping Mechanisms and Posttraumatic Stress Exhibited by Children in Areas of Yemen's Armed Conflict in Southern Saudi Arabia.

This study is an attempt to explore war-related trauma, its stressful effects, and the coping strategies of Saudi schoolchildren. The authors hypothesized that children exposed to war-related trauma will show higher levels of PTSD, and that those with higher levels of PTSD symptoms use more maladaptive coping strategies. The study describes the correlation between traumatic events and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as coping strategies. Five hundred twenty-seven intermediate and high school students, 12 to 18 years old, living in the conflict zone in southern Saudi Arabia completed three standardized self-reported scales: the War Zone Traumatic Events Checklist, the Child PTSD Symptom Scale, and the Children's Coping Strategies Checklist. Each participating student was randomly chosen. Analysis was based on two groups: the high-PTSD symptoms group (182 children) and the low-PTSD symptoms group (345 children). The study was conducted between September 2020 and April 2022 while the war was ongoing as part of an ongoing larger study. Children exposed to war-related traumatic events exhibited greater prevalence rates for PTSD. The children reported high levels of PTSD symptoms and applied a variety of coping strategies to manage related stress. Participants rarely reported that psychological or educational interventions had been used to manage the war-related traumatic experiences and PTSD or to improve related coping styles. The results are discussed in the context of mental health services needed for children in the conflict zone. To bridge the gap between health care services and the needs of children with PTSD, and for better understanding and interventions, health professionals are invited to develop a biopsychosocial model that identifies the risks of PTSD related to exposure to war-related traumatic events in school-aged children and, hence, provide a multidisciplinary intervention program that educates, encourages, and supports teachers and parents in following medical recommendations and goals.

Parent-reported posttraumatic stress reactions in children and adolescents: Findings from the mental health of parents and children in Ukraine study.

Despite the long-standing ongoing war in Ukraine, information regarding war-related negative mental health outcomes in children is limited. A nationwide sample of parents in Ukraine was surveyed to assess posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in their children and to identify risk factors associated with child PTSD status. A nationwide opportunistic sample of 1,238 parents reported on a single randomly chosen child within their household as part of The Mental Health of Parents and Children in Ukraine Study. Data were collected approximately 6 months after the war escalation in February 2022. The prevalence of PTSD was estimated using the parent-reported Child and Adolescent Trauma Screen (CATS). Based on parental reports, 17.5% of preschoolers and 12.6% of school-age children met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) criteria for PTSD. Delay in milestone development (AOR = 2.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.38-4.08]), having a parent affiliated with the emergency services or army (AOR = 2.13, [1.28-3.53]), parental PTSD/complex PTSD status (AOR = 1.88, [1.22-2.89]), and mean changes in parental anxiety (AOR = 1.98, [1.44-2.72]) were among the strongest predictors of increased risk of pediatric PTSD. Russia's war escalation in Ukraine resulted in an increased estimated prevalence of war-related PTSD in children of various ages. Urgent efforts to increase the capacity of national pediatric mental health services are critically needed to mitigate these challenges in an environment of limited financial and human resources. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Exposure to war, war nightmares, insomnia, and war-related posttraumatic stress disorder: A network analysis among university students during the war in Ukraine

IntroductionLittle is known about the prevalence and associations between war-related variables among Ukrainians during the Russian invasion. The present study assesses the prevalence and associations between exposure to war (EW), nightmares of war (NW), insomnia, and war-related post-traumatic stress disorder (WPTSD) among university students from Ukraine. MethodsDuring the war, an online cross-sectional study was performed among university students (N = 1072) from western Ukraine. Newly developed questions evaluated EW and NW, while insomnia was measured using Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and for assessing war-related PTSD symptoms, we adopted an abbreviated six-item PTSD checklist (PCL-6). The associations between exposure to war, nightmares of war, and symptoms of insomnia and PTSD were examined using network analysis (NA). ResultsAmong university students, 98 % declared exposure to war, 86 % dreamed nightmares of war, 49 % experienced insomnia symptoms, and 27 % presented symptoms of PTSD. A network analysis found that war-related PTSD has a central and the greatest impact on the frequency of war nightmares and the severity of insomnia symptoms. LimitationsSelf-report measurements were applied to a gender-unbalanced sample of university students from the western regions of Ukraine, so it would be inappropriate to generalize to the population directly affected by the war. ConclusionsWar-related PTSD symptoms had the most significant impact on the other variables. Therefore, war-related PTSD should be a priority in treatment among university students in Ukraine. However, multidisciplinary integrative intervention programs that treat nightmares, insomnia, and PTSD, can be the most effective.

No association between war-related trauma or PTSD symptom severity and epigenome-wide DNA methylation in Burundian refugees

ABSTRACT Background: War-related trauma is associated with varying posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) prevalence rates in refugees. In PTSD development, differential DNA methylation (DNAm) levels associated with trauma exposure might be involved in risk versus resilience processes. Studies investigating DNAm profiles related to trauma exposure and PTSD among refugees remain sparse. Objective: The present epigenome-wide association study investigated associations between war-related trauma, PTSD, and altered DNAm patterns in Burundian refugee families with 110 children and their 207 female and male caregivers. Method: War-related trauma load and PTSD symptom severity were assessed in structured clinical interviews with standardised instruments. Epigenome-wide DNAm levels were quantified from buccal epithelia using the Illumina EPIC beadchip. Results: Controlling for biological confounders, no significant epigenome-wide DNAm alterations associated with trauma exposure or PTSD were identified in children or caregivers (FDRs > .05). Co-methylated positions derived as modules from weighted gene correlation network analyses were not significantly associated with either war-related trauma experience in children or caregivers or with PTSD. Conclusions: These results do not provide evidence for altered DNAm patterns associated with exposure to war-related trauma or PTSD.

Comparing the effect of prolonged exposure therapy (PET) and metacognitive therapy (MCT) on the quality of life among veterans with PTSD

ABSTRACT Veterans’ quality of life (QoL) can be drastically affected by posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We compared prolonged exposure therapy (PET) with metacognitive therapy (MCT) in their effects on quality of life (QoL) among veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Overall, 57 veterans with PTSD were randomly assigned to three groups MCT (N = 17), PET (N = 17), and Control (N = 23). The 36-item short-form survey (SF-36) was used to evaluate QoL pretest, posttest, and after a 3-month follow-up. The MCT was based on the practice of detached mindfulness, controlling rumination/anxiety, and challenging negative beliefs about symptoms. The PET was based on in-vivo and imaginal exposure to trauma-related events, and discontinuation of avoidance-oriented coping strategies. Both MCT and PET groups significantly improved QoL at posttest and follow-up, compared with the control group (P < .001); however, the MCT and PET groups showed no significant difference at posttest (P = .644) or follow-up (P = .646). Our results support the efficacy of PET as the standard for PTSD treatment, while also signifying the effectiveness of MCT at increasing the QoL in war-related PTSD at a 3-month follow-up.

War exposure, posttraumatic stress disorder, and complex posttraumatic stress disorder among parents living in Ukraine during the Russian war.

High rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been documented in war-affected populations. The prevalence of Complex PTSD (CPTSD) has never been assessed in an active war zone. Here, we provide initial data on war-related experiences, and prevalence rates of ICD-11 PTSD and CPTSD in a large sample of adults in Ukraine during the Russian war. We also examined how war-related stressors, PTSD, and CPTSD were associated with age, sex, and living location in Ukraine. Self-report data were gathered from a nationwide sample of 2004 adult parents of children under 18 from the general population of Ukraine approximately 6 months after Russia's invasion. All participants were exposed to at least one war-related stressor, and the mean number of exposures was 9.07 (range=1-26). Additionally, 25.9% (95% CI=23.9%, 27.8%) met diagnostic requirements for PTSD and 14.6% (95% CI=12.9%, 16.0%) met requirements for CPTSD. There was evidence of a strong dose-response relationship between war-related stressors and meeting criteria for PTSD and CPTSD. Participants who had the highest exposure to war-related stressors were significantly more likely to meet the requirements for PTSD (OR=4.20; 95% CI=2.96-5.95) and CPTSD (OR=8.12; 95% CI=5.11-12.91) compared to the least exposed. Humanitarian responses to the mental health needs of the Ukrainian population will need to take account of posttraumatic stress reactions. Education in diagnosing and treating PTSD/CPTSD, especially in the situation of a significant lack of human resources and continuing displacement of the population, is necessary.

A Pilot Randomized Clinical Trial of a Novel, Culturally Adapted, Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention for War-Related PTSD in Iraqi Women

Trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), broadly, is one of the leading evidence-based treatments for youth with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Generally, few culturally adapted TF-CBT interventions have been examined among war trauma-affected populations in low- and middle-income countries. Using a randomized clinical trial design, a total of 48 war trauma-exposed women in Iraq, Mage (SD) = 32.91 (5.33), with PTSD were randomly assigned to either TF-CBT or wait-list control (WLC) conditions. The intervention group received 12 individual weekly sessions of a culturally adapted TF-CBT intervention. Significant reductions in PTSD symptom severity were reported by women in the TF-CBT condition from pre- to posttreatment. Women in the TF-CBT condition reported significantly greater reductions in PTSD symptoms compared to WLC at 1-month follow-up. Additionally, levels of depression, anxiety, stress, and use of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies were significantly lower in the TF-CBT condition at posttreatment and 1-month follow-up, compared to the WLC condition. Women in the TF-CBT condition also reported significant improvements in various domains of quality of life at posttreatment and 1-month follow-up. This clinical trial provides preliminary cross-cultural support for the feasibility and efficacy of TF-CBT for the treatment of PTSD symptoms among women in non-Western cultures. Future directions and study limitations are discussed.

Experiential avoidance, uncompassionate self-responding, and peritraumatic depersonalization/derealization: A novel mediation model for war-related PTSD symptomatology.

To explore a novel model for war-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology including emotion regulation processes, namely experiential avoidance (EA) and uncompassionate self-responding (USR), mediating the impact of childhood threat memories, combat exposure distress, combat and noncombat threats, and peritraumatic depersonalization/derealization (PDD) on PTSD symptomatology. A sample of 650 male Portuguese Overseas War veterans filled self-report instruments. The model explained 59% of the variance of PTSD symptomatology. Both EA and USR mediated the effects of noncombat threats and PDD on PTSD. Additionally, EA mediated combat exposure distress and USR mediated childhood threat memories. Combat exposure distress, combat and noncombat threats, and PDD showed direct effects on PTSD symptomatology. The findings help to better understand the relationship between predictive factors of war-related PTSD in clinical and research settings, providing novel insights on the effects of combat exposure distress, and the different effects of combat and noncombat-related threats on PTSD.

Whole-brain morphometry in Canadian soldiers with posttraumatic stress disorder.

Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) display several structural brain differences when compared with healthy individuals. However, findings are particularly inconsistent for soldiers with PTSD. Here, we characterized the brain morphometry of 37 soldiers from the Canadian Armed Forces with adulthood war-related PTSD using structural magnetic resonance imaging. We assessed time since trauma, as well as PTSD, depressive, and anxiety symptoms with the Modified PTSD Symptoms Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. Whole-brain morphometry was extracted with FreeSurfer and compared with a validated normative database of more than 2700 healthy individuals. Volume and thickness from several regions differed from the norms. Frontal regions were smaller and thinner, particularly the superior and rostral middle frontal gyri. Furthermore, smaller left rostral middle frontal gyrus, left pericalcarine cortex, and right fusiform gyrus were associated with more recent trauma. All subcortical structures were bigger, except the hippocampus. These findings suggest a particular brain morphometric signature of PTSD in soldiers. Smaller and thinner frontal and larger subcortical regions support impaired top-down and/or downregulation of emotional response in PTSD. Finally, the correlation of smaller frontal, temporal, and occipital regions with more recent trauma might inform future therapeutic approaches.

Personal Involvement of U.S. Vietnam Veterans in Harming Civilians and Prisoners: The Roles of Antisocial Predispositions and Combat Situations

Our previous research with U.S. Vietnam veterans focused on war-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We used data from a clinically diagnosed subsample of 254 men from the 1986–1988 National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study (NVVRS). We found that one of the most important factors associated with war-related PTSD was veterans’ participation in harm to civilians and/or prisoners (13% of the veterans). In the present research, we used the larger sample (1,183) of NVVRS male veterans to investigate the relative importance of veterans’ predispositions to antisocial behavior by contrast with their combat situations in their involvement in harm. We found that severity of combat situation is much more important. However, veterans who harmed both civilians and prisoners have elevated scores on prewar antisocial behavior and the most elevated Vietnam-related guilt feelings. In addition, harmers as a whole are more likely than nonharmers to have died by the time of a 2012–2013 follow-up of the NVVRS study.

Depression in adolescents exposed to war trauma Risk factors for development of depression in adolescents exposed to war trauma: does PTSD matter?

Background: Depression is frequently comorbid with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substantially influences its severity, course and outcomes. Published studies linking war-related paediatric PTSD and Major depressive disorder (MDD) were mainly based on cross-sectional studies. Objective: To prospectively examine the role of PTSD and other risk/protective factors in the development of depression among adolescents with war-related trauma. Methods: A longitudinal study of 160 adolescents aged 15–17 years with war-related trauma and displacement due to war in Eastern Ukraine was performed. Of the 160 adolescents, N = 86 met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-4) criteria for PTSD. All adolescents underwent comprehensive psychiatric assessments that included Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL) administered to both parents and children. Traumatic exposure was assessed using the modified Traumatic Events Screening Inventory for children (TESI-C). PTSD and MDD were assessed with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents (CAPS-CA) and Children’s Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R), and diagnosed using DSM-4 criteria. Follow-up and repeated measurements occurred at 6 and 12 months. During the study, adolescents requiring clinical care were referred for best available care in the community. Results: Among 92.6% of study completers, 26/79 youth with PTSD developed MDD (32.9%), compared to 6/70 without PTSD (8.5%): relative risk (RR) = 3.83 (95% CI 1.67-8.78), p = 0.0014; Number needed to harm (NNTH) = 4.108 (8.53–2.7). Using logistic regression, variables of school attendance, ‘secondary’ traumatic exposure, and treatment with Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) were significantly correlated with the incidence of new-onset depression among adolescents with PTSD. Conclusions: War-related trauma with subsequent PTSD appears to be a significant risk factor for the later development of depression in adolescents. The role of PTSD as a moderator of depression merits further investigation in larger scale longitudinal studies in diverse populations.

Vulnerability Factors Associated with Lifetime Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Veterans 40 Years after War.

Vulnerability factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) development are still controversial. Our aim was to study the vulnerability factors for the development of war-related PTSD over a period of 40 years after exposure. A cross-sectional, observational study was carried out on 61 male traumatized war veterans, taking into consideration adverse childhood experiences (ACE), attachment orientations, number of non-war-related traumatic events, and war experiences. Lifetime PTSD was assessed by using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Insecure attachment styles were significantly associated with lifetime PTSD and even after adjustment for war exposure this was still significant. Non-war-related traumatic events were not associated with lifetime PTSD, whereas ACE were associated with lifetime PTSD. War-related experiences were also associated with lifetime PTSD, except for injury or disease. The results for our sample show that, 40 years after war, the intensity of war-related experiences and ACE were significantly and independently associated with the development of lifetime PTSD. Insecure attachment was significantly associated with lifetime PTSD, which, in turn, are both positively associated with war exposure. These findings may have implications for patient care, as they constitute a strong argument that attachment-focused therapies could well be necessary 40 years after trauma.

Depression in adolescents exposed to war trauma Risk factors for development of depression in adolescents exposed to war trauma: does PTSD matter?

Abstract Background Depression is frequently comorbid with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substantially influences its severity, course and outcomes. Published studies linking war-related paediatric PTSD and Major depressive disorder (MDD) were mainly based on cross-sectional studies. Objective To prospectively examine the role of PTSD and other risk/protective factors in the development of depression among adolescents with war-related trauma. Methods A longitudinal study of 160 adolescents aged 15–17 years with war-related trauma and displacement due to war in Eastern Ukraine was performed. Of the 160 adolescents, N = 86 met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-4) criteria for PTSD. All adolescents underwent comprehensive psychiatric assessments that included Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL) administered to both parents and children. Traumatic exposure was assessed using the modified Traumatic Events Screening Inventory for children (TESI-C). PTSD and MDD were assessed with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents (CAPS-CA) and Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R), and diagnosed using DSM-4 criteria. Follow-up and repeated measurements occurred at 6 and 12 months. During the study, adolescents requiring clinical care were referred for best available care in the community. Results Among 92.6% of study completers, 26/79 youth with PTSD developed MDD (32.9%), compared to 6/70 without PTSD (8.5%): relative risk (RR) = 3.83 (95% CI 1.67–8.78), p = 0.0014; Number needed to harm (NNTH) = 4.108 (8.53–2.7). Using logistic regression, variables of school attendance, ‘secondary’ traumatic exposure, and treatment with Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) were significantly correlated with the incidence of new-onset depression among adolescents with PTSD. Conclusions War-related trauma with subsequent PTSD appears to be a significant risk factor for the later development of depression in adolescents. The role of PTSD as a moderator of depression merits further investigation in larger scale longitudinal studies in diverse populations.

Patterns and predictors of change in trauma-focused treatments for war-related posttraumatic stress disorder.

We evaluated patterns and predictors of change from three efficacy trials of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral treatments (TF-CBT) among service members (N = 702; mean age = 32.88; 89.4% male; 79.8% non-Hispanic/Latino). Rates of clinically significant change were also compared with other trials. The trials were conducted in the same setting with identical measures. The primary outcome was symptom severity scores on the PTSD Symptom Scale-Interview Version (PSS-I; Foa, Riggs, Dancu, & Rothbaum, 1993). Symptom change was best explained by baseline scores and individual slopes. TF-CBT was not associated with better slope change relative to Present-Centered Therapy, a comparison arm in 2 trials. Lower baseline scores (β = .33, p < .01) and higher ratings of treatment credibility (β = -.22, p < .01) and expectancy for change (β = -.16, p < .01) were associated with greater symptom change. Older service members also responded less well to treatment (β = .09, p < .05). Based on the Jacobson and Truax (1991) metric for clinically significant change, 31% of trial participants either recovered or improved. Clinicians should individually tailor treatment for service members with high baseline symptoms, older patients, and those with low levels of credibility and expectancy for change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Association Analysis of Maoa and Slc6a4 Gene Variation in South East European War Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

The aim of this study is to investigate the association of gene variations of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) and the serotonin transporter solute carrier family 6 member 4 (SLC6A4) gene with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity and coping strategies in patients with war related PTSD. The study included 747 individuals who had experienced war trauma in the South Eastern Europe conflicts between 1991 and 1999. Genotyping of the MAOA VNTR and SLC6A4 tandem repeat polymorphism in combination with rs25531 was done in 719 participants: 232 females and 487 males. Among them, 369 have had current or lifetime PTSD and 350 have had no PTSD symptoms. For psychometric approach we used the Clinician Administrated PTSD Scale (CAPS), the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), the adapted Hoffman-Lazarus Coping scale and a basic socio-demographic data questionnaire. There were no significant intergroup (PTSD versus non PTSD) differences in the genotype distribution of MAOA and SLC6A4 gene polymorphisms. The primary finding of our study was that the MAOA short allele (MAOA-S) was nominally significantly associated with the severity of PTSD symptoms in the total subgroup of participants with lifetime PTSD; males for symptoms of hyperarrousal and females with symptoms of re-experience and hyperarousal. In our research the male subsample with current PTSD and MAOA-S genotype had nominally significantly higher scores for some positive coping strategies compared to those carrying the long allele genotype (MAOA-L). There was no significant association between the severity of PTSD symptoms, BSI phenotype, coping scores and the SLC6A4 genotype. The present results support the notion that MAOA VNTR gene variation modulates development and recovery of posttraumatic stress disorder in a war traumatised population, but did not support a connection between SLC6A4 gene variations and war related PTSD.

Association of Neuropeptide S Receptor 1 and Glutamate Decarboxylase 1 Gene Polymorphisms with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder caused by highly traumatic experiences. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the neuropeptide S receptor 1 (NPSR1) and the glutamate decarboxylase 1(GAD1) gene on PTSD and its psychopathological aspects among individuals affected by the Balkan wars during the 90s. This study was conducted as part of the South Eastern Europe (SEE) study on molecular mechanisms of PTSD. It comprised 719 participants (539 males), including those with current PTSD, remitted PTSD and healthy volunteers. Psychometric evaluation was performed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.), the Clinician Administrated PTSD Scale (CAPS) andthe Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI). We examined NPSR1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs324981 and GAD1 variant rs3749034 genotypes. Case-control analyses were carried out using logistical regression to determine genotype differences between all patients that had either current or remitted PTSD and control individuals. To analyse the influence of the analysed SNPs on PTSD severity, we performed linear regression analyses with CAPS and BSI within each of the two patient groups separately. All of the calculations were performed for additive allelic, recessive, dominant and genotypic models. We observed a nominally significant association for the major allele (G) of GAD1 rs3749034 with an increased risk to develop PTSD in a case control analysis in the recessive model (P=0.0315, odds ratio=0.47, SE=0.35). In contrast, a nominally significant association of the minor allele (A) with higher CAPS scores was identified within the patient group with lifetime PTSD in the dominant model (P=0.0372, β=6.29, SE=2.99). None of these results did withstand correction for multiple tests. No nominal significant results of GAD1 rs3749034 were found with regard to the intensity of psychological BSI symptoms. Case-control analyses of NPSR1 rs324981 revealed a nominally significant higher risk for homozygous T allele carriers to develop PTSD (P=0.0452) in the recessive model. On the other hand, the T allele showed a nominally significant association with higher BSI scores in patients suffering from lifetime PTSD in the recessive model (P=0.0434). Again, these results were not significant anymore after correction for multiple tests. No associations of NPSR1 rs324981 and CAPS score was identified. The findings of this study provide some evidence that the NPSR1 and GAD1 polymorphisms might play a role in the development of war-related PTSD and its related psychological expressions. Further research is needed to elucidate the interactions of specific gene variants and environmental factors in the development of PTSD.

Tauopathy in veterans with long-term posttraumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury

PurposeTraumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have emerged as independent risk factors for an earlier onset of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), although the pathophysiology underlying this risk is unclear. Postmortem studies have revealed extensive cerebral accumulation of tau following multiple and single TBI incidents. We hypothesized that a history of TBI and/or PTSD may induce an AD-like pattern of tau accumulation in the brain of nondemented war veterans.MethodsVietnam War veterans (mean age 71.4 years) with a history of war-related TBI and/or PTSD underwent [18F]AV145 PET as part of the US Department of Defense Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Subjects were classified into the following four groups: healthy controls (n = 21), TBI (n = 10), PTSD (n = 32), and TBI+PTSD (n = 17). [18F]AV1451 reference tissue-normalized standardized uptake value (SUVr) maps, scaled to the cerebellar grey matter, were tested for differences in tau accumulation between groups using voxel-wise and region of interest approaches, and the SUVr results were correlated with neuropsychological test scores.ResultsCompared to healthy controls, all groups showed widespread tau accumulation in neocortical regions overlapping with typical and atypical patterns of AD-like tau distribution. The TBI group showed higher tau accumulation than the other clinical groups. The extent of tauopathy was positively correlated with the neuropsychological deficit scores in the TBI+PTSD and PTSD groups.ConclusionA history of TBI and/or PTSD may manifest in neurocognitive deficits in association with increased tau deposition in the brain of nondemented war veterans decades after their trauma. Further investigation is required to establish the burden of increased risk of dementia imparted by earlier TBI and/or PTSD.

Supplemental Material for Patterns and Predictors of Change in Trauma-Focused Treatments for War-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Supplemental Material for Patterns and Predictors of Change in Trauma-Focused Treatments for War-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder