Early altered resting-state functional connectivity predicts the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms in acutely traumatized subjects

PLoS One. 2012;7(10):e46833. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046833. Epub 2012 Oct 2.

Abstract

The goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between resting-state functional connectivity and the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in 15 people who developed PTSD following recent trauma. Fifteen participants who experienced acute traumatic events underwent a 7.3-min resting functional magnetic resonance imaging scan within 2 days post-event. All the patients were diagnosed with PTSD within 1 to 6 months after trauma. Brain areas in which activity was correlated with that of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) were assessed. To assess the relationship between the severity of PTSD symptoms and PCC connectivity, contrast images representing areas positively correlated with the PCC were correlated with the subject's Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale scores (CAPS) when they were diagnosed. Furthermore, the PCC, medial prefrontal cortex and bilateral amygdala were selected to assess the correlation of the strength of functional connectivity with the CAPS. Resting state connectivity with the PCC was negatively correlated with CAPS scores in the left superior temporal gyrus and right hippocampus/amygdala. Furthermore, the strength of connectivity between the PCC and bilateral amygdala, and even between the bilateral amygdala could predict the severity of PTSD symptoms later. These results suggest that early altered resting-state functional connectivity of the PCC with the left superior temporal gyrus, right hippocampus and amygdala could predict the severity of the disease and may be a major risk factor that predisposes patients to develop PTSD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Basal Metabolism*
  • Female
  • Gyrus Cinguli / metabolism
  • Gyrus Cinguli / pathology
  • Gyrus Cinguli / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Nerve Net / metabolism
  • Nerve Net / pathology*
  • Nerve Net / physiopathology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / metabolism
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / pathology*
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / physiopathology*
  • Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute / metabolism
  • Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute / pathology*
  • Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute / physiopathology*
  • Time Factors

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30800370), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81171325), Pu Jiang Talent Project (No. 09PJ408900), Shanghai Science and Technology Committee Medical guide project (No. 114119a0900), and Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project (Project No. S30203). The funders played no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.