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. 2017 Dec:95:247-252.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.09.007. Epub 2017 Sep 9.

Automated measurement of hippocampal subfields in PTSD: Evidence for smaller dentate gyrus volume

Jasmeet P Hayes  1 , Scott Hayes  2 , Danielle R Miller  3 , Ginette Lafleche  4 , Mark W Logue  5 , Mieke Verfaellie  6
Affiliations

Automated measurement of hippocampal subfields in PTSD: Evidence for smaller dentate gyrus volume

Jasmeet P Hayes et al. J Psychiatr Res. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Smaller hippocampal volume has been consistently observed as a biomarker of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, less is known about individual volumes of the subfields composing the hippocampus such as the dentate gyrus and cornu ammonis (CA) fields 1-4 in PTSD. The aim of the present study was to examine the hypothesis that volume of the dentate gyrus, a region putatively involved in distinctive encoding of similar events, is smaller in individuals with PTSD versus trauma-exposed controls. Ninety-seven recent war veterans underwent structural imaging on a 3T scanner and were assessed for PTSD using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. The hippocampal subfield automated segmentation program available through FreeSurfer was used to segment the CA4/dentate gyrus, CA1, CA2/3, presubiculum, and subiculum of the hippocampus. Results showed that CA4/dentate gyrus subfield volume was significantly smaller in veterans with PTSD and scaled inversely with PTSD symptom severity. These results support the view that dentate gyrus abnormalities are associated with symptoms of PTSD, although additional evidence is necessary to determine whether these abnormalities underlie fear generalization and other memory alterations in PTSD.

Keywords: FreeSurfer; Hippocampus; MRI; Memory; Stress disorders; Veterans.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Sample subject’s subfield segmentation.
A. sagittal section B. coronal section.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Subfield volumes by diagnosis.
Values represent raw volumes averaged across left and right hemispheres. Bars represent standard errors. ** = significantly different volumes, when adjusted for all covariates and corrected for multiple comparisons. * = nominally significant volumes when adjusted for all covariates.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. CA4/DG volume by PTSD symptom severity.
CA4/DG volume is adjusted for age, sex, education, and imaging sequence.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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