ISMRM: MRI shows promise for helping to diagnose PTSD

SINGAPORE - MRI shows promise for helping to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a presentation delivered May 7 at the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM) meeting.Presenter Osamu Abe, MD, PhD, of the University of Tokyo in Japan offered attendees a primer on the MRI findings that "most robustly" identify the condition, listing hyperactivation of the amygdala and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, hypoactivation of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and atrophy of the hippocampus."Neuroimaging is now offering insights into the neurobiological basis for normal [brain] development, aging, and disease processes," Abe noted.PTSD may occur when an individual is exposed to severe and/or ongoing trauma such as childhood abuse or war, Abe said, and it can carry wide-ranging impact on an individual's behavior, mood, and cognition. He and his team found motivation for the study after the Tokyo subway sarin event in 1995."Considering its prevalence, [PTSD] is a significant public health concern," he said. "Terrorism victims and combat veterans are highly susceptible groups."Symptoms of the condition tend to persist for more than one month after the original traumatic event and can include recurrent, intrusive memories; negative changes in cognition or mood (inability to remember aspects of the trauma, self-blame); increased fear response; reactivity (irritability, impulsivity, hypervigilance); avoidance of trauma-reminders (people, pl...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: ISMRM 2024 Source Type: news