Reduced cerebellar left hemisphere and vermal volume in adults with PTSD from a community sample

Author(s)

Baldacara, Leonardo ^{[1, 2]} ; Jackowski, Andrea P. ; Schoedl, Aline ^[3] ; Pupo, Mariana ^[3] ; Andreoli, Sergio B. ^[4] ; Mello, Marcelo F. ^[3] ; Lacerda, Acioly L. T. ; Mari, Jair J. ; Bressan, Rodrigo A.

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, LiNC, Edificio Pesquisas UNIFESP 2, BR-04039032 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] UFT, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Programa Atendimento & Pesquisa Violencia PROVE, BR-04039032 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Nucleo Estat & Metodol Aplicadas NEMAP, BR-04039032 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH; v. 45, n. 12, p. 1627-1633, DEC 2011.
• Web of Science Citations: 34

Abstract

Background: Traumatic events exposure is a necessary condition for developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but not all individuals exposed to the same trauma will develop PTSD. Human studies have suggested that the cerebellum is involved in human fear perception, anticipation, and recollection. In this context, the current study evaluated whether cerebellar volume is associated with PTSD. Methods: Eighty-four victims of violence, 42 who fulfilled the DSM-IV-TR criteria for PTSD and 42 resilient controls, were identified through an epidemiologic survey conducted in the city of 530 Paulo. Subjects were evaluated using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Early Trauma Inventory (ETI). All subjects underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to evaluate their cerebellar hemispheres and vermis. Results: PTSD subjects had relative smaller left hemisphere (p = 0.04) and vermis (p < 0.01) volumes persisted after controlling for gender, age, and brain volume. In PTSD group, left cerebellar hemisphere volume correlated negatively with PTSD (p = 0.01) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.04). Vermal volume correlated negatively with PTSD symptoms (p < 0.01), early traumatic life events (p < 0.01), depressive symptoms (p = 0.04) and anxiety (p = 0.01). Conclusion: The cerebellum is involved in emotion modulation, and our results suggest that cerebellar volumetric reduction is associated with mood, anxiety and PTSD symptoms. Early traumatic life experiences are related to vermal volume reduction and may be a risk factor for future PTSD development. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 04/15039-0 - Post-traumatic stress disorder: epidemiology, physiopathology and treatment
• Grantee: Jair de Jesus Mari
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants