Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent anxiety disorder marked by behavioral, physiologic, and hormonal alterations. Significant impairment across several domains of functioning is common. Recently, there has been increased interest and research utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine specific brain activation (or deactivation) in subjects with PTSD. Though recent studies have confirmed differences in various areas of brain function between PTSD and healthy controls, only one study has examined if effective psychological intervention may also modify brain functions. The goal of the proposed K23 Career Development Award is twofold. First, to provide the candidate, Steven E. Bruce, Ph.D., with additional training in neuroimaging methodology and analysis to become a leader in neuroimaging clinical trials. Second, the proposal will examine the neural correlates of PTSD symptom reduction in individuals with PTSD. Specifically, we propose to examine neuroimaging data from 30 participants with PTSD at two points, before and after completion of cognitive processing therapy (CPT), a highly effective, 12-session cognitive behavioral treatment for PTSD. An additional 30 healthy control participants will be recruited and used as a comparison group. Neuroimaging data will focus on amygdala and prefrontal cortex activity, and these regions will be compared after cognitive behavioral therapy. Specifically, we hypothesize that participants who respond to treatment compared to those who do not respond, will differ in amygdala and prefrontal cortex activity. We also hypothesize that these differences between responders and non-responders will be evident prior to treatment. That is, we hypothesize that patterns of activation at baseline will predict response to treatment. Significant changes in brain activity as a result of successful treatment could have profound implications for the development and refinement of psychological treatments for PTSD. Similarly, predicting treatment outcome from baseline neuroimaging will enable clinicians to further personalize treatment approaches to maximize potential outcomes for individuals suffering from PTSD.

Public Health Relevance

This Career Development Award will provide the applicant with additional training in neuroimaging methodology and analysis in order to conduct independent neuroimaging clinical trials for PTSD. The study component of this proposal will utilize neuroimaging to examine the effects of cognitive behavioral treatment outcome on participants with PTSD. A second innovation is that the proposed study will be one of the first to examine and identify neural predictors of treatment outcome in participants with PTSD. Significant changes in brain activity and volume as a result of successful treatment could have profound implications for the development and refinement of psychological treatments for PTSD. Similarly, predicting treatment outcome from baseline neuroimaging will enable clinicians to further individualize treatment approaches to maximize potential outcomes for individuals suffering from PTSD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23MH090366-02
Application #
8197409
Study Section
Biobehavioral Mechanisms of Emotion, Stress and Health Study Section (MESH)
Program Officer
Chavez, Mark
Project Start
2010-12-01
Project End
2015-11-30
Budget Start
2011-12-01
Budget End
2012-11-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$167,918
Indirect Cost
$12,201
Name
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
804883825
City
Saint Louis
State
MO
Country
United States
Zip Code
63121
Yang, Zhen; Oathes, Desmond J; Linn, Kristin A et al. (2018) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Is Associated With Enhanced Cognitive Control Network Activity in Major Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging 3:311-319
Shou, Haochang; Yang, Zhen; Satterthwaite, Theodore D et al. (2017) Cognitive behavioral therapy increases amygdala connectivity with the cognitive control network in both MDD and PTSD. Neuroimage Clin 14:464-470
Brown, Wilson J; Wojtalik, Jessica A; Dewey, Daniel et al. (2016) Affect and neural activity in women with PTSD during a task of emotional interference. J Affect Disord 204:9-15
Buchholz, Katherine R; Bruce, Steven E; Koucky, Ellen M et al. (2016) Neural Correlates of Trait Rumination During an Emotion Interference Task in Women With PTSD. J Trauma Stress 29:317-24
Hu, Emily; Koucky, Ellen M; Brown, Wilson J et al. (2014) The Role of Rumination in Elevating Perceived Stress in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. J Interpers Violence 29:1953-62
Bruce, Steven E; Buchholz, Katherine R; Brown, Wilson J et al. (2012) Altered emotional interference processing in the amygdala and insula in women with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Neuroimage Clin 2:43-9