Findings of PTSD-Specific Deficits in Default Mode Network Strength Following a Mild Experimental Stressor

Authors

Christopher L Averill
Lynnette A Averill
Teddy J Akiki
Samar Fouda
John H Krystal
Chadi G Abdallah

Language

English

Publication Date

1-1-2024

Journal

NPP—Digital Psychiatry and Neuroscience

DOI

10.1038/s44277-024-00011-y

PMID

38919723

PMCID

PMC11197271

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

6-17-2024

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

Reductions in default mode (DMN) connectivity strength have been reported in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, the specificity of DMN connectivity deficits in PTSD compared to major depressive disorder (MDD), and the sensitivity of these alterations to acute stressors are not yet known. 52 participants with a primary diagnosis of PTSD (n = 28) or MDD (n = 24) completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging immediately before and after a mild affective stressor. A 2 × 2 design was conducted to determine the effects of group, stress, and group*stress on DMN connectivity strength. Exploratory analyses were completed to identify the brain region(s) underlying the DMN alterations. There was significant group*stress interaction (p = 0.03), reflecting stress-induced reduction in DMN strength in PTSD (p = 0.02), but not MDD (p = 0.50). Nodal exploration of connectivity strength in the DMN identified regions of the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the precuneus potentially contributing to DMN connectivity deficits. The findings indicate the possibility of distinct, disease-specific, patterns of connectivity strength reduction in the DMN in PTSD, especially following an experimental stressor. The identified dynamic shift in functional connectivity, which was perhaps induced by the stressor task, underscores the potential utility of the DMN connectivity and raises the question whether these disruptions may be inversely affected by antidepressants known to treat both MDD and PTSD psychopathology.

Keywords

Predictive markers, Post-traumatic stress disorder

Published Open-Access

yes

Recommended Citation

Averill, Christopher L; Averill, Lynnette A; Akiki, Teddy J; et al., "Findings of PTSD-Specific Deficits in Default Mode Network Strength Following a Mild Experimental Stressor" (2024). Staff and Researcher Publications. 8.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/clinic_pub/8