Influence of comorbid depression on fear in posttraumatic stress disorder: An fMRI study

Kemp, Andrew H.; Felmingham, Kim; Das, Pritha; Hughes, Gerard; Peduto, Anthony S.; Bryant, Richard A.; Williams, Leanne M.

doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2007.01.010

« Previous Next »Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging
Volume 155, Issue 3 , Pages 265-269, 15 August 2007

Influence of comorbid depression on fear in posttraumatic stress disorder: An fMRI study

Andrew H. Kemp
- Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Hospital and Western Clinical, School University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Corresponding author. The Brain Dynamics Centre, Acacia House, Hawkesbury Road, Westmead Hospital, Westmead NSW 2145, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9845 6835; fax: +61 2 96357734.
Kim Felmingham
- Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Hospital and Western Clinical, School University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Pritha Das
- Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Hospital and Western Clinical, School University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Neuroscience Institute of Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Gerard Hughes
- Department of Radiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Anthony S. Peduto
- Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Hospital and Western Clinical, School University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Radiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Richard A. Bryant
- Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Hospital and Western Clinical, School University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Leanne M. Williams
- Brain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Hospital and Western Clinical, School University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Received 13 July 2006; received in revised form 9 January 2007; accepted 28 January 2007.

Abstract

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is thought to involve a dysregulation of medial prefrontal–amygdala activity in response to fear. PTSD studies, however, have been confounded by comorbid depression, which shows similar dysregulation. Amygdala and medial prefrontal activity was reduced in PTSD-depression compared to PTSD-alone samples, highlighting the need to account for comorbidity.

Keywords: PTSD, Depression, Comorbidity