The Root Cause of Post-traumatic and Developmental Stress Disorder
Abstract
Our overarching scientific hypothesis holds that serotonergic influences on brain development driven by genetics and early experience induce a variation of normal brain anatomy that makes the brain highly susceptible to the effects of severe stress. We are studying this question using both clinical and basic approaches. Full funding of the main contract and subcontracts was completed in August of 2007, and equipment purchases and setup was completed in the following 3 months. Set-up work to validate the assays and procedures have been largely completed. In the 1/2 year since full funding, local IRB submissions have been made for projects 1 (PTSD screen in active duty troops), 2 (Fluoxetine treatment of active duty troops) and 5 (MRI and psychophysiological assessments). An additional funding supplement to project 5, which will extend the MRI patient recruitment to include active duty troops at Fort Hood using a newly acquired mobile 3T MRI (provided by the VA) has received funding as part of an additional FY2007-2008 funding supplement. The IRB submission for this supplement to project 5 has also been submitted, and a change in scope has been submitted to MOMRP for review. IRB submission for project 4 (Post-mortem analysis) is in preparation. Approval to proceed with animal work was received in August and at this date, most animals enrolled in Task 1 and 2 have completed the protocol. Initial behavioral analysis indicates that both pre- and post-natal isolation stress alters the behavior of adult animals. Histological and stereological work on the brains from these animals is now in progress to complete these tasks.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA504113
Entities
People
- Keith A. Young
Organizations
- Texas A&M University