Reduced hippocampal volume in alcohol and substance naïve Vietnam combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This pilot study was undertaken to exclude the effects of alcohol and other substances on brain morphology in posttraumatic stress disorder. BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder and alcohol use are among the conditions associated with decreased hippocampal volume. The possible confounding contribution of alcohol and other substances of abuse to decreased hippocampal volume in posttraumatic stress disorder has not been previously explored directly. METHOD: In this pilot study, magnetic resonance imaging scans of 4 substance naive subjects with combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder and of 4 controls were quantified. RESULTS: Bilateral hippocampal volumes were significantly smaller in posttraumatic stress disorder subjects. No significant differences were found between posttraumatic stress disorder subjects and the comparison group for total brain, gray and white matter, and ventricular volumes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that posttraumatic stress disorder in the absence of alcohol and other substance abuse may be associated with reduced hippocampal volume. The significance of reduced hippocampal volume in posttraumatic stress disorder is discussed.
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PTSD is associated with smaller hippocampal volume.
“Smaller hipocampal volume MRI: Villarreal et al. (2002); Hedges et al. (2003); Kitayama et al. (2005); Pavić et al. (2007); Morey et al. (2012)”
From Neuroimaging research in posttraumatic stress disorder – Focus on amygdala, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (2019) · cites this paper as Hedges et al. (2003)
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MR-based in vivo hippocampal volumetrics: 2. Findings in neuropsychiatric disorders
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- Authors
- Hedges, D. W., Allen, S., Tate, D. F., Thatcher, G. W., Miller, M. J., Rice, S. A., Cleavinger, H. B., Sood, S., & Bigler, E. D.
- Affiliations
- Brigham Young University (US)
- University of Utah (US)
- VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hedges, Dawson W.
- Tate, David F.
- Miller, Michael J.
- Rice, Sara A.
- Cleavinger, Howard B.
- Bigler, Erin D.
- Venue
- Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology
- Published
- 2003-12
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 219-224
- ISSN
- 1543-3633 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1982224220
- Cited by
- 80
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 6.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- University of Utah
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, hippocampal volume, combat veterans, alcohol consumption, brain structure, gray matter, white matter, ventricular volume
- MeSH terms
- Atrophy, Brain, Cerebral Ventricles, Combat Disorders, Hippocampus, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Pilot Projects, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Veterans, Vietnam, Case-Control Studies
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