A pilot longitudinal study of hippocampal volumes in pediatric maltreatment-related posttraumatic stress disorder

Background: Adult posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with decreased hippocampal volumes; however, decreased hippocampal volumes were not seen in pediatric maltreatment-related PTSD. We examined hippocampal volumes longitudinally to determine if a history of childhood traumatic stress...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological psychiatry (1969) 2001-08, Vol.50 (4), p.305-309
Main Authors: De Bellis, Michael D, Hall, Julie, Boring, Amy M, Frustaci, Karin, Moritz, Grace
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
amygdala
Amygdala - anatomy & histology
Amygdala - physiology
Anxiety disorders. Neuroses
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child Abuse - psychology
Child maltreatment
Child, Preschool
Female
Follow-Up Studies
hippocampus
Hippocampus - abnormalities
Hippocampus - physiopathology
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Medical sciences
neurodevelopment
Panic disorder
Pilot Projects
posttraumatic stress disorder
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - physiopathology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology
Temporal Lobe - anatomy & histology
Temporal Lobe - physiology
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Summary:Background: Adult posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with decreased hippocampal volumes; however, decreased hippocampal volumes were not seen in pediatric maltreatment-related PTSD. We examined hippocampal volumes longitudinally to determine if a history of childhood traumatic stress alters hippocampal growth during puberty. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure temporal lobes, amygdala, and hippocampal volumes in nine prepubertal maltreated subjects with pediatric maltreatment-related PTSD and nine sociodemographically matched healthy nonmaltreated yoked control subjects at baseline and after at least 2 years follow-up (during the later stages of pubertal development) using identical equipment and measurement methodology. Results: Temporal lobe, amygdala and hippocampal volumes did not differ between groups at baseline, follow-up, or across time. Conclusions: Whereas these data are from a small sample, the results do not support hippocampal changes in pediatric maltreatment-related PTSD.
ISSN:0006-3223
1873-2402
DOI:10.1016/S0006-3223(01)01105-2