J Korean Geriatr Psychiatry.  2023 Apr;27(1):16-22. 10.47825/jkgp.2023.27.1.16.

Differences in White Matter Hyperintensity in Elderly Veterans With and Without Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Health Service Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
  • 2Veterans Medical Research Institute, Veterans Health Service Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
  • 3Department of Psychiatry, Korea University Guro Hospital, Korea University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 4Department of Psychiatry, Seoul University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Abstract


Objective
Exposure to stressful events is associated with the progression of white matter hyperintensity (WMH). The purpose of this study was to determine the difference in WMH depending on the presence of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Methods
The patients who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and clinician-administered PTSD scale (CAPS) at the Veteran Health Service Medical Center were reviewed retrospectively. WMH were evaluated using the Fazekas scale. The patients with PTSD (n=51; age 66.25±10.43 years) were compared with patients exposed to trauma without PTSD (n=67; age 69.45±10.44 years).
Results
The scores of Beck Depression Scale, Beck Anxiety scale, and CAPS were significantly higher in the PTSD group. The PTSD group showed a significant difference on the Fazekas scale compared to the trauma-exposed group without PTSD (periventricular white matter, p=0.001; deep white matter, p=0.008). After adjusting for age, smoking and comorbidity, WMH was higher in the PTSD group than in the trauma exposed group (periventricular white matter, p<0.001; deep white matter, p=0.006).
Conclusion
The results suggests that there may be an association between PTSD and WMH as well as stressful events.

Keyword

Post-traumatic stress disorder; White matter hyperintensity; Veterans
Full Text Links
  • JKGP
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr