scholarly journals Electroacupuncture Attenuates Anxiety-Like Behaviors in a Rat Model of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: The Role of the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuchao Hou ◽  
Meiyu Chen ◽  
Can Wang ◽  
Lumin Liu ◽  
Huijuan Mao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Present Report ◽  
Extracellular Recording ◽  
Relative Increase ◽  
Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Clinical Approach ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stimulation System ◽  
Bursting Activity

Electroacupuncture (EA) is a promising clinical approach to treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet the mechanisms whereby EA can alleviate anxiety and other PTSD symptoms have yet to be clarified. In the present report, rats underwent EA for 14 consecutive days following modified single prolonged stress (MSPS) exposure. These animals were then evaluated in open field and elevated plus maze tests (OFT and EPM), while Fos immunohistochemical staining was performed to assess ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) functional activation. In addition, an extracellular recording and stimulation system was used to analyze vmPFC inputs into the ventral tegmental area (VTA) in these rats. Temporary vmPFC inactivation was further performed to assess whether this was sufficient to reverse the anxiolytic effects of EA. Overall, rats that underwent EA treatment spent more time in the central region (OFT) and the open arm (EPM) relative to MSPS model animals (P < 0.05). These MSPS model animals also exhibited significantly fewer activated Fos-positive nuclei in the vmPFC following behavioral testing, while EA was associated with a significant relative increase in c-Fos expression in this region. The transient inactivation of the vmPFC was sufficient to reverse the effects of EA treatment on anxiety-like behaviors in MSPS model rats. MSPS and SEA rats exhibiting no differences in bursting activity between baseline and vmPFC stimulation, whereas bursting activity rose relative to baseline upon ventral mPFC stimulation in EA treated and control rats. Together, these findings indicate that the vmPFC and its inputs into the VTA are functionally linked to the anxiolytic activity of EA, implicating this pathway in the EA-mediated treatment of PTSD.

Decreased Gray-To-White Matter Contrast Within the Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex of Individuals With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 89 (9) ◽  
pp. S231-S232
Author(s):  
Nathaniel Harnett ◽  
Sanne van Rooij ◽  
Timothy Ely ◽  
Jennifer Stevens ◽  
Antonia Seligowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex

Prefrontal cortex rTMS reverses behavioral impairments and differentially activates c-Fos in a mouse model of post-traumatic stress disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Legrand ◽  
Romain Troubat ◽  
Bruno Brizard ◽  
Anne-Marie Le Guisquet ◽  
Catherine Belzung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Behavioral Impairments

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline Clark ◽  
Jeffrey Cole ◽  
Christine Winter ◽  
Geoffrey Grammer
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Specific Treatment ◽  
Pulse Frequency ◽  
Weight Of Evidence ◽  
Comprehensive Treatment ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
The Right

Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often fail to resolve with psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, or integrative medicine treatments. Given these limitations, there is a continued push to discover treatment methods utilizing novel mechanisms of action. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) offers a non-invasive and safe method of brain stimulation that modulates neuronal activity in a focal area to achieve excitation or inhibition, and may have utility for patients suffering from PTSD, although, to date, evidence of efficacy is limited. The TMS treatment can be varied to suit the needs of the patient by altering the selection of the specific treatment parameters, such as pulse frequency or stimulation intensity. The weight of evidence to date supports treatment of either the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or the medical prefrontal cortex. Coupling treatment with script based exposure therapies may also assist with potentiation of the extinction response. Ultimately, stimulation parameters may be related to secondary downstream effects, and thus current targets may indirectly reverse the underlying neuronal pathophysiology. Given that PTSD is a complex illness with a poorly understood pathophysiology, it often exists with other psychiatric comorbidities or TBI. As such, TMS could be an effective part of a comprehensive treatment program.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Police and Military Personnel: Assessment and Treatment Methods from Psychophysiology and Neuroscience—Essential Preliminary Information

Biofeedback ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Carmichael
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Treatment Effectiveness ◽  
Clinical Approach ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Dsm Iv ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This article presents the clinical approach developed by a Canadian biofeedback practitioner for the assessment and treatment of police and military clients, especially those with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The author conducted a clinical practice for more than 25 years primarily with male police and military clients. He examines the impact on treatment effectiveness of a number of factors, such as how police and military clients differ from civilian populations, the definition of trauma in this population, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition; DSM-IV) diagnostic criteria, the assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder, risks and coping factors, consequences of PTSD, DSM-IV conundrums, epidemiology, and other reactions to traumatic events.

scholarly journals Diminished medial prefrontal cortex activation during the recollection of stressful events is an acquired characteristic of PTSD

2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 1128-1138 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Dahlgren ◽  
L. M. Laifer ◽  
M. B. VanElzakker ◽  
R. Offringa ◽  
K. C. Hughes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Medial Prefrontal Cortex ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic

AbstractBackgroundPrevious research has shown relatively diminished medial prefrontal cortex activation and heightened psychophysiological responses during the recollection of personal events in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the origin of these abnormalities is unknown. Twin studies provide the opportunity to determine whether such abnormalities reflect familial vulnerabilities, result from trauma exposure, or are acquired characteristics of PTSD.MethodsIn this case–control twin study, 26 male identical twin pairs (12 PTSD; 14 non-PTSD) discordant for PTSD and combat exposure recalled and imagined trauma-unrelated stressful and neutral life events using a standard script-driven imagery paradigm during functional magnetic resonance imaging and concurrent skin conductance measurement.ResultsDiminished activation in the medial prefrontal cortex during Stressful v. Neutral script-driven imagery was observed in the individuals with PTSD, relative to other groups.ConclusionsDiminished medial prefrontal cortex activation during Stressful v. Neutral script-driven imagery may be an acquired characteristic of PTSD. If replicated, this finding could be used prospectively to inform diagnosis and the assessment of treatment response.

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