Background
Previous magnetic resonance imaging studies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
have reported smaller hippocampal volume, especially in war and sexual abuse victims.
Our aim was to assess hippocampal volume in traumatized police officers with and without
PTSD in the absence of alcohol abuse and moderate to severe major depression.
Methods
In a case-matched control study, 14 police officers with current PTSD and 14 traumatized
police officers without lifetime PTSD were examined using magnetic resonance imaging.
Three temporal lobe areas were manually segmented: hippocampus, amygdala, and parahippocampal
gyrus. Volumetric analysis was used to measure gray matter, white matter, and cerebrospinal
fluid.
Results
After controlling for total brain volume, the hippocampal volume in the PTSD group
was significantly smaller in comparison with the traumatized control group (total
10.6%; left 12.6%). Volumes of amygdala, parahippocampal gyrus, gray matter, white
matter, and cerebrospinal fluid were not significantly altered. A significant negative
correlation was found between reexperiencing symptoms and hippocampal volume in the
PTSD group.
Conclusions
We confirmed previous findings of smaller hippocampal volume in PTSD in a new population
made up of police officers, excluding comorbidity as a confounder. The finding of
smaller hippocampal volume was specific to PTSD.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 7,
2004
Received in revised form:
May 17,
2004
Received:
January 29,
2004
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
