Functional Brain Imaging in PTSD

For Patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-55 years old
• Currently diagnosed with PTSD and symptomatic with a Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) score > 50

Exclusion criteria

• any primary Axis I disorder other than PTSD (e.g. psychosis)
• medical or neurological illnesses likely to affect physiology or anatomy, i.e. uncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular disorders
• a history of drug (including benzodiazepines (BZD)) dependence (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) IV criteria) within 1 year of the study and lasting longer than 2 years, except for alcohol dependence
• current pregnancy (as documented by pregnancy testing at screening or on the day of PET imaging study)
• current breast feeding
• nicotine dependence
• suicidal ideation or behavior
• general magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exclusion criteria, i.e. pacemakers, metals in the body;
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (due to possible neuropsychiatric effects)
• Hepatitis B or C (due to possible neuropsychiatric effects)
• use of opioid medications within 2 weeks of the positron emission tomography (PET) study
• having an abnormality in the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) that, in the opinion of the investigator, increases the risks associated with participation in the study
• seriously claustrophobic
• blood donation within 8 weeks prior to the study
• positive alcohol breathalyzer test
• Abnormal thyroid test indicated by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) < .15 mlU/L and/or thyroxine (T4) > 18 mcg/dL
• Glucose > 200 mg/dL on two separate days

For Healthy Subjects

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-55 years old
• No personal or first-degree family history of any Axis I diagnosis

Exclusion criteria

• . any history or current primary Axis I disorder ;
• . medical or neurological illnesses likely to affect physiology or anatomy, i.e. uncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular disorders;
• . a history of drug (including benzodiazepines [BZD]) dependence (DSM IV criteria) within 1 year of the study and lasting longer than 2 years, except for alcohol dependence;
• . current pregnancy (as documented by pregnancy testing at screening or on the day of PET imaging study);
• . current breast feeding;
• . nicotine dependence;
• . suicidal ideation or behavior;
• . general MRI exclusion criteria, i.e. pacemakers, metals in the body;
• . HIV (due to possible neuropsychiatric effects);
• . Hepatitis B or C (due to possible neuropsychiatric effects);
• . use of opioid medications within 2 weeks of the PET study;
• . having an abnormality in the 12-lead ECG that, in the opinion of the investigator, increases the risks associated with participation in the study;
• . seriously claustrophobic;
• . blood donation within 8 weeks prior to the study;
• . positive alcohol breathalyzer test;
• . Abnormal thyroid test indicated by TSH < .15 mlU/L and/or T4 > 18 mcg/dL;
• . Glucose > 200 mg/dL on two separate days;
• . Does not have a lifetime history of trauma.

For Healthy Subjects with Trauma ("Trauma Controls")

Inclusion criteria

• . Age 18-55 years old;
• . No personal or first-degree family history of any Axis I diagnosis;
• . Has a lifetime history of trauma.

Exclusion criteria

• . any history or current primary Axis I disorder ;
• . medical or neurological illnesses likely to affect physiology or anatomy, i.e. uncontrolled hypertension, cardiovascular disorders;
• . a history of drug (including benzodiazepines [BZD]) dependence (DSM IV criteria) within 1 year of the study and lasting longer than 2 years, except for alcohol dependence;
• . current pregnancy (as documented by pregnancy testing at screening or on the day of PET imaging study);
• . current breast feeding;
• . nicotine dependence;
• . suicidal ideation or behavior;
• . general MRI exclusion criteria, i.e. pacemakers, metals in the body;
• . HIV (due to possible neuropsychiatric effects);
• . Hepatitis B or C (due to possible neuropsychiatric effects);
• . use of opioid medications within 2 weeks of the PET study;
• . having an abnormality in the 12-lead ECG that, in the opinion of the investigator, increases the risks associated with participation in the study;
• . seriously claustrophobic;
• . blood donation within 8 weeks prior to the study;
• . positive alcohol breathalyzer test;
• . Abnormal thyroid test indicated by TSH < .15 mlU/L and/or T4 > 18 mcg/dL;
• . Glucose > 200 mg/dL on two separate days.