Neuroanatomical Risk Factors for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Recent Trauma Survivors

AbstractBackgroundLow hippocampal volume could serve as an early risk factor for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in interaction with other brain anomalies of developmental origin. One such anomaly may well be a presence of large Cavum Septum Pellucidum (CSP), which has been loosely associated with PTSD. Here, we performed a longitudinal prospective study of recent trauma survivors. We hypothesized that at one-month after trauma exposure, the relation between hippocampal volume and PTSD symptom severity will be moderated by CSP volume, and that this early interaction will account for persistent PTSD symptoms at subsequent time-points.Methods171 adults (87 females, average age=34.22, range=18-65) admitted to a general hospital’s emergency department following a traumatic event, underwent clinical assessment and structural MRI within one-month after trauma. Follow-up clinical evaluations were conducted at six (n=97) and fourteen (n=78) months after trauma. Hippocampus and CSP volumes were measured automatically by FreeSurfer software and verified manually by a neuroradiologist.ResultsAt one-month following trauma, CSP volume significantly moderated the relation between hippocampal volume and PTSD severity (p=0.026), and this interaction further predicted symptom severity at fourteen months post-trauma (p=0.018). Specifically, individuals with smaller hippocampus and larger CSP at one-month post-trauma, showed more severe symptoms at one-and fourteen months following trauma exposure.ConclusionsOur study provides evidence for an early neuroanatomical risk factors for PTSD, which could also predict the progression of the disorder in the year following trauma exposure. Such a simple-to-acquire neuroanatomical signature for PTSD could guide early management, as well as long-term monitoring.Trial RegistrationNeurobehavioral Moderators of Post-traumatic Disease Trajectories. ClinicalTrials.gov registration:NCT03756545.https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03756545

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Meta‐analysis found high rates of post‐traumatic stress disorder and associated risk factors in parents following paediatric medical events

Acta Paediatrica ◽

10.1111/apa.16113 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Aaron Burgess ◽

Lucy Wilcoxon ◽

Imogen Rushworth ◽

Richard Meiser‐Stedman

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Associated Risk Factors

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The prevalence and risk factors of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among workers injured in Rana Plaza building collapse in Bangladesh

American Journal of Industrial Medicine ◽

10.1002/ajim.22471 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 58 (7) ◽

pp. 756-763 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Taylor Fitch ◽

Gabriela Villanueva ◽

Mohammad M. Quadir ◽

Hari K. R. Sagiraju ◽

Hasanat Alamgir

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Building Collapse ◽

Post Traumatic

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Treating post-traumatic stress disorder in the ‘real world’: evaluation of a specialist trauma service and adaptations to standard treatment approaches

Psychiatric Bulletin ◽

10.1192/pb.bp.105.008664 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 8-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Damon Lab ◽

Ines Santos ◽

Felicity de Zulueta

Keyword(s):

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Post Treatment ◽

Self Report ◽

Trauma Survivors ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Trauma Service ◽

Social Difficulties ◽

Post Traumatic

Aims and MethodTo evaluate the effectiveness of treatment at the Traumatic Stress Service (TSS) by comparing pre- and post-treatment scores on patient self-report measures. Through a questionnaire survey, to explore therapists' views of problems presenting in addition to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and how, as a result, they adapted their approach to trauma work.ResultsTherapists reported that their patients present with a range of complex problems, and self-report measures show that patients suffer particularly high levels of psychopathology. Therapists identified a number of adaptations to trauma-focused work to deal with these additional problems. Of the 112 patients who completed therapy, 43% filled in pre- and post-treatment questionnaire measures. Analysis showed clinically and statistically significant improvements in levels of PTSD, depression and social functioning.Clinical ImplicationsThe typical presentation of trauma survivors is often not ‘simple’ PTSD, but PTSD resulting from chronic and multiple traumas and complicated by additional psychological and social difficulties. Adaptations to trauma-focused work can successfully treat such ‘complex’ PTSD.

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Causes and Risk Factor of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Adult Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Psychiatry International ◽

10.3390/psychiatryint2040032 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 410-423

Author(s):

Abdullah AlRefaie ◽

Christopher Dowrick

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Asylum Seekers ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Qualitative Assessment ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

Causes And Risk Factors ◽

Asylum Seekers And Refugees

Objectives: To assess the causes and risk factors of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adult asylum seekers and refugees. To explore whether the causes and risk factors of PTSD between male and female adult refugees/asylum seekers are different. Study design: Systematic review of current literature. Data Sources: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar up until February 2019. Method: A structured, systematic search was conducted of the relevant databases. Papers were excluded if they failed to meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Afterwards, a qualitative assessment was performed on the selected papers. Results: 12 Studies were included for the final analysis. All papers were either case studies/reports or cross-sectional studies. Traumatic events experienced by refugees/asylum seekers are the most frequently reported pre-migration causes of PTSD development, while acculturative stress is the most common post-migration stressor. There were mixed reports regarding the causes of PTSD between both genders of refugees/asylum seekers. Conclusions: This review’s findings have potential clinical application in terms of helping clinicians to risk stratify refugees/asylum seekers for PTSD development and thus aid in embarking on earlier intervention measures. However, more rigorous research similar to this study is needed for it to be implemented into clinical practice.

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Pain in the aftermath of trauma is a risk factor for post-traumatic stress disorder

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291707001389 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 533-542 ◽

Cited By ~ 118

Author(s):

S. B. Norman ◽

M. B. Stein ◽

J. E. Dimsdale ◽

D. B. Hoyt

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Injury ◽

Surgical Trauma ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Post Traumatic

BackgroundIdentifying risk factors for the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is important for understanding and ultimately preventing the disorder. This study assessed pain shortly after traumatic injury (i.e. peritraumatic pain) as a risk factor for PTSD.MethodParticipants (n=115) were patients admitted to a Level 1 Surgical Trauma Center. Admission to this service reflected a severe physical injury requiring specialized, emergent trauma care. Participants completed a pain questionnaire within 48 h of traumatic injury and a PTSD diagnostic module 4 and 8 months later.ResultsPeritraumatic pain was associated with an increased risk of PTSD, even after controlling for a number of other significant risk factors other than acute stress disorder symptoms. An increase of 0.5 s.d. from the mean in a 0–10 pain rating scale 24–48 h after injury was associated with an increased odds of PTSD at 4 months by more than fivefold, and at 8 months by almost sevenfold. A single item regarding amount of pain at the time of hospital admission correctly classified 65% of participants.ConclusionsIf these findings are replicated in other samples, high levels of peritraumatic pain could be used to identify individuals at elevated risk for PTSD following traumatic injury.

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