The DRD2 Taq1A polymorphism moderates the effect of PTSD symptom severity on the left hippocampal CA3 volume: a pilot study

Abstract Rationale and objectives The hippocampus, especially the CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) subfields, is reported to be associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after trauma. However, neuroimaging studies of the associations between PTSD and hippocampal subfield volumes have failed to yield consistent findings. The aim of this study is to examine whether the dopamine D2 receptor (DRD2) Taq1A polymorphism, which is associated with both hippocampal function and PTSD, moderated the association between PTSD severity and hippocampal CA1, CA3 and DG volumes. Methods T1-weighted images were acquired from 142 trauma survivors from the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake using a 3.0-T magnetic resonance imaging system. Hippocampal subfield segmentations were performed with FreeSurfer v6.0. We used the simple moderation model from the PROCESS v3.4 tool for SPSS 23.0 to examine the association between the rs1800497 polymorphism, PTSD severity, and hippocampal CA3 and DG volumes. Results A significant genotype × PTSD symptom severity interaction was found for the left CA3 volume (ΔF = 5.01, p = 0.008, ΔR2 = 0.05). Post hoc, exploratory analyses deconstructing the interaction revealed that severe PTSD symptomatology were associated with reduced left CA3 volume among TC heterozygotes (t = − 2.86, p = 0.005). Conclusions This study suggests that DRD2 Taq1A polymorphism moderates the association between PTSD symptomatology and left CA3 volume, which promotes an etiological understanding of the hippocampal atrophy at the subfield level. This highlights the complex effect of environmental stress, and provides possible mechanism for the relationship between the dopaminergic system and hippocampal function in PTSD.

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Age differences in PTSD among Canadian veterans: age and health as predictors of PTSD severity

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610214001884 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 27 (2) ◽

pp. 297-304 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Candace Konnert ◽

May Wong

Keyword(s):

Age Differences ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Ptsd Symptom ◽

Age Groups ◽

Symptom Clusters ◽

Pain Severity ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Outpatient Services ◽

Ptsd Symptom Severity ◽

Ptsd Severity

ABSTRACTBackground:To date, few studies have investigated age differences in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and none has examined age differences across symptom clusters: avoidance, re-experiencing, and hyperarousal. The first objective of this study was to investigate age differences in PTSD and its three symptom clusters. The second objective was to examine age and indices of health as predictors of PTSD symptom severity.Methods:Participants were 104 male veterans, aged 22 to 87 years, receiving specialized mental health outpatient services. Assessments included measures of health-related quality of life, pain severity, number of chronic health conditions, and symptoms of PTSD, both in total and on the symptom clusters.Results:There were significant age differences across age groups, with older veterans consistently reporting lower PTSD symptom severity, both in total and on each of the symptom clusters. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that the inclusion of health indices accounted for significantly more variance in PTSD symptoms over and above that accounted for by age alone. Pain severity was a significant predictor of PTSD total and the three symptom clusters.Conclusions: This is the first study to report lower levels of PTSD severity among older veterans across symptom clusters. These findings are discussed in relation to age differences in the experiencing and processing of emotion, autobiographical memory, and combat experiences. This study also emphasizes the importance of assessing pain in those with symptoms of PTSD, particularly older veterans who are less likely to receive specialized mental healthcare.

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Israeli Civilians under Heavy Bombardment: Prediction of the Severity of Post-Traumatic Symptoms

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x00007196 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (5) ◽

pp. 389-394 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Eli Somer ◽

Aviva Zrihan-Weitzman ◽

Tiffany Fusé ◽

Holly Parker ◽

Ben Dickstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Symptom Severity ◽

Ptsd Symptom ◽

Trauma Exposure ◽

Similar Degree ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Ptsd Symptom Severity ◽

Life Threat ◽

Prior Trauma ◽

Ptsd Symptomatology

AbstractContext:The military conflict that occurred between Lebanon and Israel in July and August of 2006 was characterized by the heavy bombardment of specific geographic regions in Israel, resulting in considerable civilian casualties and property damage.Objective:Israeli civilians directly and indirectly exposed to bombardment were compared on exposure to the recent bombardment, trauma history, perceived life threat and peritraumatic dissociation during the recent bombardment, and current post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity.Design, Setting, and Participants:Following the conflict, data were collected by telephone from 317 Israeli residents randomly selected from two towns that were subject to differing levels of exposure to the bombardment.Intervention(s):NoneMain Outcome Measure(s):Exposure to trauma during the Second Lebanon War, prior trauma exposure, PTSD symptom severity, perceived life threat, and peri-traumatic dissociation.Results:The residents directly affected by the bombardment (Kiryat Shmona; KS) endorsed more trauma exposure, (p <0.01); more prior trauma, (p <0.01); more life threat, (p <0.01); and greater PTSD symptomatology (12 % of KY participants and 38% of KS participants had probable PTSD), compared to residents in the comparison town (Kfar Yona; KY). Both groups reported a similar degree of peri-event dissociation (KS: M = 7.2 ±3.7; KY: M = 7.3 ±3.0). Perceived life threat mediated the relationship between exposure to bombardment and PTSD symptomatology. Time spent in bomb shelters was not associated with PTSD symptom severity. Prior shelling-related trauma negatively predicted PTSD.Conclusions:The terror of bombardment is a risk factor for PTSD among civil-ians. Although there is considerable resilience in chronically threatened commu-nities, it is prudent to develop and implement public health approaches to prevent those most distressed during and after attacks from developing PTSD. Because, to a small degree, prior trauma exposure buffers the response to bombardment, interventions should consider leveraging citizens' past successful coping.

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Cumulative Violence and PTSD Symptom Severity Among Urban Street-Based Female Sex Workers

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260519884694 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 088626051988469 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ju Nyeong Park ◽

Michele R. Decker ◽

Judith K. Bass ◽

Noya Galai ◽

Catherine Tomko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Workers ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Female Sex Workers ◽

Ptsd Symptom ◽

Physical Violence ◽

Urban Street ◽

Female Sex ◽

Ptsd Symptom Severity ◽

Cumulative Violence ◽

Ptsd Severity

Female sex workers (FSW) are a marginalized and vulnerable population at high risk of gender-based violence within and outside of their occupation. However, FSW remain underrepresented in the trauma and mental health literature. The aims of this study were to (a) characterize exposure to violence among street-based FSW, including violence type, patterns over the life course, and key perpetrator groups, and (b) examine the multivariate associations between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity and two constructs (revictimization across life stages and cumulative violence). Data were drawn from the Sex Workers and Police Promoting Health in Risky Environments (SAPPHIRE) study, an observational community-based cohort of street-based FSW recruited through targeted sampling across Baltimore, Maryland (USA) in 2016 to 2017. PTSD symptom severity was measured using the PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders–Fifth Edition (PCL-5). At baseline, 61% of FSW screened positive for PTSD symptoms. The mean PCL-5 score was 38.6. We documented extensive histories of sexual and physical violence (lifetime: 81.8%; childhood and adult revictimization: 15.0% for sexual and 37.7% for physical). The vast majority of perpetrators were male and included paying clients, police officers, family members, and intimate partners. Exposure to childhood and adult sexual violence were independently associated with higher PTSD severity ( p < .05), with marginal associations observed for physical violence. Data supported a cumulative violence model of PTSD severity ( p < .05). Binge drinking also appeared to be a contributing factor ( p < .05). The levels of PTSD observed among our sample were comparable with that reported among treatment-seeking war veterans. Our findings underscore the urgent need for tailored trauma-informed interventions and policies to address violence among urban street-based FSW, a population experiencing extremely high levels of violence, PTSD, and substance use.

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