Abstract

Background: Findings on structural brain alterations following trauma are inconsistent due probably to heterogeneity in imaging studies and population, clinical presentations, genetic vulnerability, and selection of controls. This study examines whether trauma and re-experiencing symptoms are associated with specific alterations in grey matter volumes and if this varies according to 5-HTTLPR genotype.

Methods: Structural MRI was used to acquire anatomical scans from 377 community-dwelling older adults. Quantitative regional estimates of 22 subregional volumes were derived using FreeSurfer software. Lifetime trauma was assessed using the validated Watson’s PTSD inventory, which evaluates the most severe trauma experienced according to DSM criteria. Analyses adjusted for age, sex, total brain volume, head injury, and comorbidities.

Results: Of the 212 participants reporting lifetime trauma, 35.4% reported re-experiencing symptoms and for 1.9%, this was severe enough to meet criteria for full threshold PTSD. In participants with the SS 5-HTTLPR genotype only, re-experiencing symptoms were associated with smaller volumes in middle and superior temporal, frontal (lateral orbital, rostral and caudal middle) and parietal (precuneus, inferior and superior) regions. The trauma-exposed participants without re-experiencing symptoms were not significantly different from the non-trauma-exposed participants except for smaller precuneus and superior parietal region in traumatized participants and a larger amygdala in traumatized women specifically.

Conclusions: In the non-clinical sample, lifetime trauma and re-experiencing symptoms were associated with smaller volume in prefrontal, temporal and parietal cortex subregions, and this varied according to serotonergic genetic vulnerability, 5-HTTLPR SS individuals being most susceptible.

Details

Title
Structural brain changes with lifetime trauma and re-experiencing symptoms is 5-HTTLPR genotype-dependent
Author
Ancelin, Marie-Laure 1 ; Carriere, Isabelle 1 ; Artero, Sylvaine 1 ; Maller, Jerome J 2 ; Meslin, Chantal 3 ; Dupuy, Anne-Marie 4 ; Ritchie, Karen 5   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Ryan, Joanne 6   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Chaudieu, Isabelle 1 

1  Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, INSERM, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France 
2  Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre, Central Clinical School, Monash University and the Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia; General Electric Healthcare, Australia 
3  Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia 
4  Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, INSERM, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Department of Biochemestry and Hormonology, Lapeyronie University Hospital, Montpellier, France 
5  Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, INSERM, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Center for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK 
6  Neuropsychiatry: Epidemiological and Clinical Research, INSERM, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia 
Publication year
2020
Publication date
Dec 2020
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Ltd.
e-ISSN
20008066
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2020.1733247
ProQuest document ID
2492472470
Copyright
© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons  Attribution – Non-Commercial License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.