Twin Study of Biologic Markers for PTSD

描述（由申请人提供）：本项目将利用 这是一个独特的机会，可以成功地调查 创伤后应激障碍患者对突然的、响亮的声音的反应升高 （创伤后应激障碍）在人口的同卵双胞胎不一致的战斗暴露， 越南拟议的研究将评估另外两个假定的 PTSD生物标志物反映PTSD中杏仁核的高（再）活性。的 需要解决的可能标记起源是：a.）家族易感性 创伤后应激障碍，与B.）获得性创伤后应激障碍家庭脆弱性将通过 比较（高风险）非战斗暴露的双胞胎和战斗暴露的双胞胎 PTSD与（低风险）非战斗暴露的双胞胎 没有创伤后应激障碍的双胞胎获得性PTSD体征将通过检查 PTSD诊断状态因子与PTSD之间的相互作用 非创伤后应激障碍的战斗暴露双胞胎）和一对内暴露因素（战斗 vs.非战斗）。 因变量（标记）将包括a。）强度 经典条件分化皮肤的获得和消退 电导响应，即，“条件性”，和B.）功能磁 杏仁核对恐惧的“掩蔽”表现的反应 面部表情每个标记都是非侵入性的;可以在 门诊基础;已在先前发表的同行评审研究中显示 显著区分PTSD和非PTSD受试者组;并且能够 从拟议项目中获得的数据中获得信息。 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， 条件性和功能性磁共振成像面具程序。统计学意义 将通过方差和协方差分析进行先验检验 t检验和相关分析。预计结果将推动我们的 理解生物学的先天性与后天性 创伤后应激障碍的神经解剖学异常和这种疾病的发病机制。 结果也可能对预防性筛查的人在 暴露在军事战斗或其他环境中， 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.