Regional cerebral blood flow in patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder

The aim of the study was to determine whether regional cerebral blood flow in survivors of torture suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) differed significantly from that in healthy controls. We examined the cerebral regional distribution of 99m-technetium-hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Neuropsychobiology Vol. 43; no. 4; p. 260
Main Authors:	Mirzaei, S, Knoll, P, Keck, A, Preitler, B, Gutierrez, E, Umek, H, Köhn, H, Pecherstorfer, M
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Switzerland 01-01-2001
Subjects:	Adult Cerebrovascular Circulation - physiology Female Humans Magnetic Resonance Imaging Male Radiopharmaceuticals Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnostic imaging Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - physiopathology Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
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Summary:	The aim of the study was to determine whether regional cerebral blood flow in survivors of torture suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) differed significantly from that in healthy controls. We examined the cerebral regional distribution of 99m-technetium-hexamethylpropyleneamineoxime (HMPAO) using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in 8 patients and in 8 healthy controls. A semi-quantitative analysis was performed in which symmetrical regions of interest (ROI) were drawn in all subjects. Regional blood flow was markedly more heterogeneous in patients suffering from PTSD than in healthy controls. The differences are significant. Severe psychological trauma induced by torture can cause neurobiologic alterations that may contribute, even years after the original trauma, to a number of complaints commonly expressed by patients suffering from PTSD.
ISSN:	0302-282X
DOI:	10.1159/000054900