Abstract
Background
Intrusive recollections, one of the re-experiencing symptoms of posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), frequently occur in cancer survivors rather than the full spectrum
of the symptoms of PTSD. Functional neuroimaging studies of PTSD have revealed hyperresponsiveness
to threat-related stimuli in the amygdala, but no volumetric studies have ever found
alteration in the volume of the amygdala. The aim of the present study was to assess
the possibility of structural alteration of the amygdala in cancer survivors with
intrusive recollections.
Methods
Magnetic resonance imaging volumetric analysis of the amygdala was performed in 35
breast cancer survivors with a history of cancer-related intrusive recollections and
41 control breast cancer survivors who had no such history. The groups were similar
in age, height, handedness, alcohol consumption, and medical characteristics except
for past major depressive disorder.
Results
The total volume of the amygdala was significantly smaller in subjects with a history
of intrusive recollections as compared with the control subjects. This finding continued
to be significant after controlling for age, height, and major depressive disorder.
Conclusions
These results suggest a difference in volume of the amygdala of cancer survivors according
to whether they have had cancer-related intrusive recollections.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
November 19,
2002
Received in revised form:
November 14,
2002
Received:
August 12,
2002
Identification
Copyright
© 2003 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
