fMRI in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) During Working Memory Updating

Neuropsychological studies investigating trauma-exposed and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) subjects have generally underlined the significantly poorer performance of tasks that require attention, concentration, and verbal memory, and difficulty in regulating memories surrounding the traumatic event. A previous study (El Hage et al. Cognitive Neuropsychiatry, 2006) revealed that the trauma-exposed subjects scored higher on anxiety/depression scales, and lower on processing speed tests. Moreover, the study showed significant impairment in working memory partially mediated by speed processing, but not by anxiety or depression. These results suggest that processing speed makes a major contribution to trauma-related working memory decline, and needs to be investigated in further studies.The aim of the present study is to explore correlation between hippocampus volume, frontal dysfunction and cognitive slowing in trauma-exposed subjects, while examining brain activation during performance of working memory tasks using functional magnetic resonance.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders Amnesia Amnesia, Dissociative Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Memory Disorders Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurobehavioral Manifestations Neurocognitive Disorders Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, Traumatic Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University Hospital of Tours

Tours, Centre-Val de Loire, 37044, France

About this study

Working memory performance will be assessed using the "3-back test", and processing speed evaluated with "words comparison test". The study will be conducted on 2 years. The study should include 18 right-handed females victims of sexual abuse and suffering from PTSD, and 18 controls right-handed females without any history of abuse ad not suffering from PTSD. Brain activation will be measured during performance of working memory tasks (3-back test) and processing speed test using functional magnetic resonance.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Right-handed women
Victim of sexual abuse
Suffering from PTSD

Exclusion criteria

Epilepsy
Claustrophobia
MRI contre-indication
Addictive disorders
Sightless
Detection of a brain injury at the MRI

Treatment and study plan

Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Functional

Procedure

Structural and functional MRI

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Tours

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Working Memory Updating in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Study of Neural Correlates Using fMRI

Acronym: METRAPI

Important dates

Study start: 2007
Primary completion: 2008
Study completion: 2008
First posted: Feb 7, 2006
Registry last updated: Mar 17, 2010

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed