Neural function during emotion processing and modulation associated with treatment response in a randomized clinical trial for posttraumatic stress disorder

Elizabeth R. Duval, Jony Sheynin, Anthony P. King, K. Luan Phan, Naomi M. Simon, Brian Martis, Katherine E. Porter, Sonya B. Norman, Israel Liberzon, Sheila A.M. Rauch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with exaggerated threat processing and deficits in emotion modulation circuitry. It remains unknown how neural circuits are associated with response to evidence-based treatments for PTSD. Method: We examined associations between PTSD symptoms and indicators of neural response in key emotion processing and modulation regions. Fifty-six military Veterans with PTSD were randomly assigned to one of three evidence-based treatments (prolonged exposure, sertraline, and PE plus sertraline) in a randomized clinical trial (“PROGrESS”; 2018, Contemp Clin Trials, 64, 128–138). Twenty-seven combat-exposed controls (CCs) served as a comparison group at pretreatment. Before and after PTSD treatment, functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to assess brain activation and connectivity during the validated Shifted Attention Emotion Appraisal Task (2003, J Neurosci, 23, 5627–5633; 2013, Biol Psychiatry, 73, 1045–1053). Results: Greater activation in emotion processing (anterior insula) and modulation (prefrontal cortex) regions and increased connectivity between attentional control (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and superior parietal cortex) and emotion processing (amygdala) regions, at pretreatment, were associated with subsequent PTSD symptom improvement. Conclusions: This study is one of the first to examine task-based activation and functional connectivity in a PTSD treatment trial, and provides evidence to suggest that activation in and connectivity between emotion processing and modulation regions are important predictors of treatment response.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)670-681
Number of pages12
JournalDepression and Anxiety
Volume37
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1 2020

Keywords

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • PTSD
  • functional MRI
  • pharmacotherapy
  • trauma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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