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                            Library & Multimedia
 Variation in the Developing Brain and the Role of Pediatric Posttraumatic Stress on Structural and Functional Networks
NCJ Number
              303271

Author(s)
          C. F. Weems;
                        J. D. Russell
Date Published

2020
Length
              3 pages
Annotation
              This study tested volumetric brain differences between pediatric groups with and without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a region-of-interest meta-analysis.
Abstract
              Findings on structural brain volume associated with pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been variable, and it is unclear whether any structural differences are specific to pediatric PTSD in comparison with adult PTSD or other co-occurring pediatric psychiatric conditions. The current study conducted meta-regressions to test the effects of age and sex on heterogeneous study findings. To assess specificity, the study compared pediatric PTSD with adult PTSD, pediatric trauma exposure without PTSD, pediatric depression, and pediatric anxiety. In 15 studies examined, pediatric PTSD was associated with smaller total gray matter and cerebral, temporal lobe (total, right, and left), total cerebellar vermis, and hippocampal (total, right, and left) volumes, compared to peers without PTSD. In the pediatric PTSD group, but not the comparison group, the study found a trend toward smaller total, right, and left amygdalar volumes. In an external comparison, smaller hippocampal volume was not significantly different between adult and pediatric PTSD groups. Qualitative comparisons with a pediatric trauma exposure without PTSD group, a pediatric depression group, and a pediatric anxiety group revealed differences that may be unique to pediatric PTSD, and others that may be convergent with these related clinical conditions in youth. The study concluded that pediatric PTSD is associated with structural differences that parallel those associated with adult PTSD. Furthermore, pediatric PTSD appears to be distinct from other related pediatric conditions at the structural level. Future studies employing longitudinal, dimensional, and multimodal neuroimaging approaches will further elucidate the nature of neurobiological differences in pediatric PTSD. (publisher abstract modified)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2019-R2-CX-0013


  
  
        
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        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Award
        A Randomized Controlled Trial of ACTV versus T4C for Community Reentry: Differential Efficacy and Mechanisms of Change
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2020
    
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                Adults (18+)
        Stress
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