Measurement of Pituitary Volume and Hormonal Changes in Patients With Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Psychiatric |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 80 |
| Updated: | 2/7/2015 |
| Start Date: | May 2008 |
| End Date: | December 2012 |
| Contact: | Odelia Cooper, MD |
| Email: | coopero@cshs.org |
| Phone: | 3104232830 |
Approximately, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs in 8% of the adult population
over time. Exposure to traumatic events increases the risk of poor physical health and
often leads to disability. The biology of PTSD is continually being explored in order to
help find better treatments for this debilitating disorder. In our study, we propose to
further our understanding of PTSD. Prior research has found that patients with PTSD have
changes in the stress hormone pathway. In this pathway, there is release of certain hormones
from the pituitary gland in the brain that feed into the blood stream and tell the adrenal
gland to produce stress hormones.
The pituitary is a gland located at the base of the brain which controls the hormones in the
body, including the stress hormones. Research in other psychiatric disorders has found
changes in the pituitary volume along with changes in the hormones. This has not been
investigated yet in PTSD. Therefore, we propose in our study to measure pituitary volume in
people with PTSD and look at the changes in the stress hormone pathway. Moreover, we will
investigate whether other hormones are affected by PTSD. In this way, we can further our
understanding of the the biology of PTSD and help develop new therapies which can intervene
through the hormonal system.
over time. Exposure to traumatic events increases the risk of poor physical health and
often leads to disability. The biology of PTSD is continually being explored in order to
help find better treatments for this debilitating disorder. In our study, we propose to
further our understanding of PTSD. Prior research has found that patients with PTSD have
changes in the stress hormone pathway. In this pathway, there is release of certain hormones
from the pituitary gland in the brain that feed into the blood stream and tell the adrenal
gland to produce stress hormones.
The pituitary is a gland located at the base of the brain which controls the hormones in the
body, including the stress hormones. Research in other psychiatric disorders has found
changes in the pituitary volume along with changes in the hormones. This has not been
investigated yet in PTSD. Therefore, we propose in our study to measure pituitary volume in
people with PTSD and look at the changes in the stress hormone pathway. Moreover, we will
investigate whether other hormones are affected by PTSD. In this way, we can further our
understanding of the the biology of PTSD and help develop new therapies which can intervene
through the hormonal system.
Lifetime prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is estimated at 8%. Exposure to
traumatic events increases the risk of poor physical health, and chronic PTSD often leads to
disability. The pathophysiology of PTSD is continually being explored in order to help find
better treatment modalities for this debilitating disorder. Proposed mechanisms for the
altered stress axis in PTSD include changes at the level of the pituitary. Though the
pituitary stress hormone axis has been explored, no work has been done to evaluate for
changes in the pituitary volume in response to these changes in the stress axis in PTSD. We
have designed a study which will assess for differences in pituitary volumes. We will
compare volumes in patients with PTSD, non-PTSD subjects who have had a history of trauma,
and healthy controls. We will test the HPA axis through the dexamethasone/CRH test, a
standardized diagnostic test, and correlate the findings with changes in the pituitary
volume. Moreover, we will assess for changes in other endocrine axes and proteins.
We propose to further our understanding of PTSD by establishing a direct link between
structure and function. By establishing these links in structure and function, novel
therapies which can intervene through the endocrine system may prove to be of benefit in
treating PTSD
traumatic events increases the risk of poor physical health, and chronic PTSD often leads to
disability. The pathophysiology of PTSD is continually being explored in order to help find
better treatment modalities for this debilitating disorder. Proposed mechanisms for the
altered stress axis in PTSD include changes at the level of the pituitary. Though the
pituitary stress hormone axis has been explored, no work has been done to evaluate for
changes in the pituitary volume in response to these changes in the stress axis in PTSD. We
have designed a study which will assess for differences in pituitary volumes. We will
compare volumes in patients with PTSD, non-PTSD subjects who have had a history of trauma,
and healthy controls. We will test the HPA axis through the dexamethasone/CRH test, a
standardized diagnostic test, and correlate the findings with changes in the pituitary
volume. Moreover, we will assess for changes in other endocrine axes and proteins.
We propose to further our understanding of PTSD by establishing a direct link between
structure and function. By establishing these links in structure and function, novel
therapies which can intervene through the endocrine system may prove to be of benefit in
treating PTSD
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18-80
- history of PTSD
Exclusion Criteria:
- Uncontrolled medical or psychiatric conditions Liver or kidney disease Use of
anti-depressants or ketoconazole Use of steroids within a year of the study Use of
drugs of abuse Pregnancy or nursing Metal implants Low testosterone states A history
of head bleeds or pituitary tumors
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