Accession Number:

ADA581405

Title:

SPECT Imaging to Evaluate Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Descriptive Note:

Annual rept. 20 Jan 2010-19 Jan 2011

Corporate Author:

INSTITUTE FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS NEW HAVEN CT

Personal Author(s):

• Seibyl, John

Report Date:

2011-02-01

Pagination or Media Count:

14.0

Abstract:

Post traumatic stress disorder PTSD is a complex clinical disorder resulting from exposure to intense, life-threatening events resulting in persistent re-experiencing of the trauma, avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma, dissociation, and heightened arousal which severely impact social and occupational functioning. Recent work has underscored morphological and functional brain alterations in PTSD patients using brain imaging with MRI, SPECT and PET imaging. Despite this encouraging preliminary work, there exists only a limited understanding of the pathophysiological changes which may subserve symptoms of PTSD. Preclinical studies now suggest that inflammatory changes may be implicated in neuronal loss in models of PTSD. Microglia represent a key inflammatory cell mediator within the CNS. Upon activation, these cells densely express an 18 kDa translocator protein TSPO receptors on their cell surface. Hence, it is possible to develop a radiotracer which targets TSPO as a marker for neuroinflammation. We have performed preliminary work with the TSPO imaging agent 123-I CLINDE with a goal of this proposal is to establish and validate an imaging biomarker for neuroinflammation in PTSD subjects that could both enhance our understanding of the pathophysiology and identify new therapeutic strategies for PTSD.

Descriptors:

• *POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
• AVOIDANCE
• CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
• CLINICAL MEDICINE
• INFLAMMATION
• ORDER DISORDER TRANSFORMATIONS
• RECEPTOR SITES(PHYSIOLOGY)

Subject Categories:

• Anatomy and Physiology
• Medicine and Medical Research

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE