Volume 138, Issue 4 p. 312-324
Original Article

Smaller hippocampal volume following sexual assault in women is associated with post-traumatic stress disorder

Y. Quidé

Corresponding Author

Y. Quidé

School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Randwick, NSW, Randwick, NSW, Australia

Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia

Yann Quidé, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.

E-mails: [email protected]; [email protected]

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F. Andersson

F. Andersson

UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France

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D. Dufour-Rainfray

D. Dufour-Rainfray

UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France

CHRU de Tours, Tours, France

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C. Descriaud

C. Descriaud

Centre for Victims of Sexual Assault, CHRO, Orléans, France

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B. Brizard

B. Brizard

UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France

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V. Gissot

V. Gissot

CIC 1415, Inserm, Clinical Investigation Centre, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France

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H. Cléry

H. Cléry

UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France

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M-P. Carrey Le Bas

M-P. Carrey Le Bas

Departmental Association for Assistance to Victims of Criminal Offenses, ADAVIP 37, France Victims 37, Tours, France

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S. Osterreicher

S. Osterreicher

Centre for Victims of Sexual Assault, CH de Blois, Blois, France

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M. Ogielska

M. Ogielska

CHRU de Tours, Tours, France

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P. Saint-Martin

P. Saint-Martin

Legal Medicine Service, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France

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W. El-Hage

W. El-Hage

UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France

CHRU de Tours, Tours, France

CIC 1415, Inserm, Clinical Investigation Centre, CHRU de Tours, Tours, France

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First published: 27 June 2018
Citations: 13

Abstract

Objective

Exposure to sexual assault is a significant risk factor to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in females. The early neurobiological changes leading to the development of PTSD remain understudied and unclear in this population.

Methods

Participants were 27 adult females recruited within a month following exposure to sexual assault (T1) and 20 age-matched non-exposed controls. Among the victims, 10 participants met (PTSD+) and 15 did not meet (PTSD−) DSM-IV criteria for PTSD 6 months post-trauma (T2). At both visits, hippocampal and amygdala volumes were extracted from magnetic resonance imaging scans, and indices of total diurnal cortisol changes were derived from individual areas under the curve relative to the ground (AUCg). Measures at T1 were compared between groups at T1, measures at T2 between groups at T2, and measures at T1 between groups at T2.

Results

At T1, victims had significantly smaller bilateral hippocampal volumes, but not AUCg, than controls. At T2, neither hippocampal volume nor AUCg significantly differed among the groups. However, the PTSD+ group had significantly smaller hippocampal volumes at T1 than the control group, but not compared to the PTSD− group.

Conclusions

This study indicates that having smaller hippocampal volumes is a risk factor to develop PTSD in females exposed to sexual assault.

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