Hippocampal Volume and Memory Function in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

외상후 스트레스 장애 환자에서 해마용적과 기억기능

  • Chung, Moon-Yong (Department of Neuropsychiatry, Korea Veterans Hospital) ;
  • Chung, Hwa-Yong (Department of Neuropsychiatry, Korea Veterans Hospital) ;
  • Ryu, Hyun (Department of Radiology, Korea Veterans Hospital) ;
  • Chung, Hae-Gyung (Department of Neuropsychiatry, Korea Veterans Hospital) ;
  • Choi, Jin-Hee (Department of Neuropsychiatry, Korea Veterans Hospital)
  • 정문용 (한국보훈병원 신경정신과) ;
  • 정화용 (한국보훈병원 신경정신과) ;
  • 유현 (한국보훈병원 방사선과) ;
  • 정혜경 (한국보훈병원 신경정신과) ;
  • 최진희 (한국보훈병원 신경정신과)
  • Published : 2001.06.30

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of PTSD on memory function and hippocampal volume, and to identify major variables correlated to hippocampal volume and memory function. Thirty four Vietnam veterans were collected for this study, among whom eighteen were PTSD patients and sixteen were combat control subjects. The author used Impact of Event Scale(IES), Combat Exposure Scale(CES), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HDRS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Korea Memory Assessment Scale(K-MAS) was assessed for memory function. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) was used to measure hippocampal volume. There were significant differences between PTSD and Non-PTSD veterans in IES, HDRS and BDI. Significant difference was found in verbal memory and total memory of K-MAS between PTSD and Non-PTSD veterans. There was significant difference in hippocampal volume between PTSD and Non-PTSD veterans. Short term memory, verbal memory and total memory were positively correlated to hippocampal volume. Hippocampal volume was negatively correlated to IES, HDRS, and BDI. These results suggest that PTSD severity be associated with hippocampal atrophy and memory dysfunction. Reduced or smaller hippocampal volume may be preexisting risk factor for stress exposure or the development of PTSD on combat exposure.

Keywords