Twin Study of Biologic Markers for PTSD

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目将利用 跟进成功调查起源的独特机会 创伤后应激障碍患者对突然、大声的声音的反应增强 （PTSD）在同卵双胞胎群体中，在战斗中暴露不一致 越南。拟议的研究将评估另外两个假定的起源 反映 PTSD 中杏仁核过度（再）活动的 PTSD 生物标志物。的 需要解决的可能的标记来源是： a.) 家族脆弱性 PTSD，vs. b.) 获得 PTSD 迹象。家庭脆弱性将通过以下方式进行评估 比较（高风险）未经历过战斗的双胞胎与经历过战斗的双胞胎 患有创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）与（低风险）非战斗暴露的双胞胎 没有创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）的双胞胎。获得性 PTSD 症状将通过检查来评估 配对间 PTSD 诊断状态因素 PTSD 与 PTSD 之间的相互作用 暴露于战斗的双胞胎中的非创伤后应激障碍（PTSD））和配对内暴露因素（战斗 与非战斗）。 因变量（标记）将包括 a.) 的强度 经典条件差异皮肤的获得和消失 电导响应，即“可调节性”，和 b.) 功能磁 磁共振成像（fMRI）杏仁核对“掩盖”恐惧表现的反应 面部表情。每个标记都是非侵入性的；可以测量在 流动基础；已在之前发表的同行评审研究中得到证实 显着区分 PTSD 和非 PTSD 受试者组；并且有能力 了解拟议项目中要获得的数据。 双胞胎受试者将前往马萨诸塞州总医院度过一个长周末，接受心理诊断和心理测量评估，并且 可调节性和功能磁共振成像蒙面程序。统计意义 将通过先验的方差和协方差分析进行测试 t 检验和相关分析。预计结果将推动我们 对生物的先天性与后天性的理解 PTSD 的异常以及这种疾病的神经解剖学和发病机制。 结果也可能对以下人员的预防性筛查产生影响： 经历军事战斗或其他情况后发生创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）的风险很高 严重的压力源。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This project will take advantage of the unique opportunity to follow up a successful investigation of the origin of elevated responses to sudden, loud tones in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a population of identical twins discordant for combat exposure in Vietnam. The proposed study will evaluate the origin of two additional putative PTSD biologic markers that reflect amygdala hyper (re)activity in PTSD. The possible marker origins to be addressed are: a.) Familial vulnerability for PTSD, vs. b.) acquired PTSD sign. Familial vulnerability will be evaluated by comparing the (high-risk) non-combat-exposed co-twins of combat-exposed twins with PTSD vs. the (low-risk) non-combat-exposed co-twins of combat-exposed twins without PTSD. Acquired PTSD sign will be evaluated by examining the interaction between a between-pair PTSD Diagnostic status factor PTSD vs. non-PTSD in the combat-exposed twin) and a within-pair Exposure factor (combat vs. non-combat). Dependent variables (markers) will include a.) Strength of acquisition and extinction of a classically conditioned differential skin conductance response, i.e., "conditionability," and b.) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) amygdala response to "masked" presentations of fearful facial expressions. Each marker is non-invasive; can be measured on an ambulatory basis; has been shown in previous, published, peer-reviewed research to significantly differentiate PTSD and non-PTSD subject groups; and is capable of being informed by the data to be obtained in the proposed project. Twin subject pairs will travel to the Massachusetts General Hospital for a long weekend to undergo psychodiagnostic and psychometric evaluation, and the conditionability and fMRI masked faces procedures. Statistical significance will be tested by means of analyses of variance and covariance, a priori t-tests, and correlational analyses. Results are expected to advance our understanding of the constitutional vs. acquired nature of biologic abnormalities in PTSD and the neuroanatomy and pathogenesis of this disorder. Results may also have implications for the prophylactic screening of persons at high risk for the development of PTSD upon exposure to military combat or other severe stressors.