Brain Imaging of Psychotherapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Inclusion Criteria:

1. age between 18 and 60 years;

2. fMRI scanning eligibility, including no evidence of any form of metal embedded in the
body (e.g., metal wires, nuts, bolts, screws, plates, sutures), as these produce
artifacts when brain imaging;

3. not currently involved in an exposure-based psychotherapy, in order to be able to
measure and interpret the effects of PE on PTSD;

4. must comprehend English well and show non-impaired intellectual abilities to ensure
adequate comprehension of the fMRI task instructions and PE treatment;

5. no history of neurological or cardiovascular disorders, brain surgery,
electroconvulsive or radiation treatment, brain hemorrhage or tumor, stroke, seizures
or epilepsy, diabetes, hypo- or hyperthyroidism, head trauma with loss of
consciousness greater than thirty minutes;

6. no regular use of benzodiazepine, opiate, thyroid, anticonvulsant or antipsychotic
medications. Patients on stable doses of antidepressant medications will be allowed.
Patients for whom antidepressant dosing is being actively titrated will be required
to be on a stable dose for 1 month prior to inclusion in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Any contraindication to being scanned in the 3T or 1.5T scanners at the Lucas Center
or CNI such as having a pacemaker or implanted device that has not been cleared for
scanning at the Lucas Center or CNI.

- Participants will be excluded from the study if there is any lifetime evidence of
psychosis, mania, hypomania, or bipolar disorders. Other axis I comorbidities will
not be a cause for exclusion.

In addition, subjects will be excluded if they have a significant CNS neurological
condition such as stroke, seizure, tumor, hemorrhage, multiple sclerosis, etc.

Patients who have current substance dependence will be excluded from the study. A recent
diagnosis of substance abuse is allowable, however, as long as subjects have been
abstinent for greater than three months.

- Subjects will be excluded if they are currently in an exposure-based psychotherapy
for PTSD.