Decreased Regional Cerebral Perfusion at Resting State in Acute Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Resulting From a Single, Prolonged Stress Event

Acad Radiol. 2016 Sep;23(9):1083-90. doi: 10.1016/j.acra.2016.05.002. Epub 2016 Jun 6.

Abstract

Rationale and objectives: This study evaluated the altered regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in resting state in patients with acute posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 3 months after trauma.

Materials and methods: The rCBF was measured in 30 patients with acute PTSD and 36 healthy controls.

Results: Survivors with acute PTSD showed decreased rCBF, the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale score correlated negatively with the rCBF, and rCBF at resting state decreased in acute PTSD.

Conclusions: PTSD symptom severity was associated with diminished cerebral blood flow in the right insular cortex and right orbital medial frontal gyrus. The rCBF may predict PTSD symptom severity.

Keywords: Brain; MR imaging; arterial spin labeling; posttraumatic stress disorders; statistical parametric mapping.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Brain / blood supply
  • Cerebrovascular Circulation / physiology*
  • China
  • Disasters
  • Female
  • Floods
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Rest
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Spin Labels
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / physiopathology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
  • Survivors / psychology
  • Survivors / statistics & numerical data*
  • Time

Substances

  • Spin Labels