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. New findings from our lab funded by VA support the existence of an anatomical phenotype conferring susceptibility to depression, and the current work seeks to extend these findings to PTSD. After TATRC review in January of 2011, a revised research plan was developed to include a pre/post-deployment study at Fort Hood and anatomical studies of PTSD in collaboration with NIMH, Yale and USUHS. The revised budget was resubmitted in July and we are awaiting release of funds from contracting to begin the work. Post-mortem brain tissue from 9 brains have been sent to NIMH for a gene expression/transcriptome study to investigate RNA expression. This tissue has been combined with 6 PTSD brains from the NIMH Clinical Brain Disorder Branch whose clinical diagnosis are being verified as consistent with our diagnostic methods. Golgi methods for analysis of prefrontal anatomy have been developed at Yale and we are awaiting contracting to execute the subcontract. The clinical protocol for the pre/postdeployment study at Fort Hood is under review at BAMC IRB and a revised CRADA is being prepared.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA573711
Entities
People
- Keith A. Young
Organizations
- Texas A&M University