ro-16-0154 and Combat-Disorders

A previous single photon emission computed tomography study showed decreased central type benzodiazepine receptors in the prefrontal cortex in Vietnam War veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. To assess the generalizability of this finding to patients with more recent history, we studied central type benzodiazepine receptors in Gulf War veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.. Nineteen Gulf War veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and 19 age-matched, healthy, nondeployed veterans participated in a single photon emission computed tomography study using [(123)I]iomazenil. Regional total distribution volume (V(T)') was compared between two groups using Statistical Parametric Mapping 99 (Wellcome Department of Imaging Neuroscience, London, United Kingdom) and volumes of interest analysis.. Benzodiazepine receptor levels did not show regional differences between the two groups, either with or without global normalization. Average difference in V(T)' was 2% across brain areas; however, by applying global normalization, V(T)' in the patient group showed significant negative correlation with childhood trauma scores in the right superior temporal gyrus.. Less severe symptoms and shorter duration of the illness in the current group than the prior one may be the source of the difference in the results of the two studies.

Topics: Adult; Combat Disorders; Female; Flumazenil; Humans; Iodine Radioisotopes; Life Change Events; Male; Matched-Pair Analysis; Prefrontal Cortex; Receptors, GABA-A; Reference Values; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; United States; Veterans

Animals exposed to stress exhibit a decrease in benzodiazepine receptor binding in the frontal cortex. No studies have examined central benzodiazepine receptor binding in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to examine measures of benzodiazepine receptor binding in PTSD.. From 13 patients with Vietnam combat-related PTSD and 13 case-matched healthy comparison subjects, a quantitative measure related to benzodiazepine receptor binding (distribution volume) was obtained with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging of [(123)I]iomazenil binding and measurement of radioligand concentration in plasma. Distribution volume image data were analyzed by means of statistical parametric mapping.. Lower distribution volumes were found in the prefrontal cortex (Brodmann's area 9) of PTSD patients than in comparison subjects.. These findings of lower values for the benzodiazepine receptor binding measure of distribution volume are consistent with fewer benzodiazepine receptors and/or reduced affinity of receptor binding in the medial prefrontal cortex in patients with PTSD. Alterations in benzodiazepine receptor function in this area may underlie many of the symptoms of PTSD.

Topics: Adult; Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; Combat Disorders; Flumazenil; Hippocampus; Humans; Iodine Radioisotopes; Male; Mesencephalon; Middle Aged; Pons; Prefrontal Cortex; Receptors, GABA-A; Thalamus; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; Veterans; Vietnam