Abstract
Brain-imaging studies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have rapidly increased in recent years. Structural studies have identified potential smaller volumes of the hippocampus of traumatized and/or PTSD subjects. Functional activation studies have implicated hyperactive or altered functioning of brain regions, such as the amygdala and the insula, and a failure to engage emotional regulatory structures, such as the medial prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex. Recent neurochemical investigations have suggested that neuromodulatory systems (eg, γ-aminobutyric acid, μ-opioid) may underlie these aberrant brain activation patterns. This article reviews the literature on structural, functional, and neurochemical brain-imaging studies of PTSD.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 641-650 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | CNS spectrums |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2003 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Psychiatry and Mental health