SynthesisBiological psychiatry2018
Smaller Hippocampal Volume in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Multisite ENIGMA-PGC Study: Subcortical Volumetry Results From Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Consortia.
Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph
Synthesis in Biological psychiatry, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 268 papers, 14 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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268citing papers in PubMed, 14 pooled it
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
268 citing papers in PubMed, 14 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Biological and neurocognitive correlates of comorbid post-traumatic stress disorder and alcohol use disorder: a systematic review.European journal of psychotraumatology · 2026Pooled it
- Post-traumatic stress disorder moderates the association between BrainAge acceleration and GrimAge acceleration.Neurobiology of aging · 2026Pooled it
- Brain structure and function in adult survivors of developmental trauma with psychosis: A systematic review.Psychological medicine · 2025Pooled it
- A whole-brain voxel-based analysis of structural abnormalities in PTSD: An ENIGMA-PGC study.European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists · 2025Pooled it
- A review of the 257 meta-analyses of the differences between females and males in prevalence and risk, protective factors, and treatment outcomes for mental disorder.BMC psychiatry · 2025Pooled it
- Smaller total and subregional cerebellar volumes in posttraumatic stress disorder: a mega-analysis by the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD workgroup.Molecular psychiatry · 2024Pooled it
- Early biological and psychosocial factors associated with PTSD onset and persistence in youth.European journal of psychotraumatology · 2024Pooled it
- Functional brain changes after alternative pharmacological interventions in posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review of clinical trials.Brain and behavior · 2023Pooled it
- Network Centrality and Modularity of Structural Covariance Networks in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Multisite ENIGMA-PGC Study.Brain connectivity · 2023Pooled it
- Shape analysis of subcortical structures in obsessive-compulsive disorder and the relationship with comorbid anxiety, depression, and medication use: A meta-analysis by the OCD Brain Imaging Consortium.Brain and behavior · 2022Pooled it
- Impaired episodic memory in PTSD patients - A meta-analysis of 47 studies.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2022Pooled it
- Epigenome-wide meta-analysis of blood DNA methylation and its association with subcortical volumes: findings from the ENIGMA Epigenetics Working Group.Molecular psychiatry · 2021Pooled it
- Coordinating Global Multi-Site Studies of Military-Relevant Traumatic Brain Injury: Opportunities, Challenges, and Harmonization Guidelines.Brain imaging and behavior · 2021Pooled it
- The ENIGMA Brain Injury working group: approach, challenges, and potential benefits.Brain imaging and behavior · 2021Pooled it
- Hippocampal connectivity changes after traumatic memory reactivation with propranolol for posttraumatic stress disorder: a randomized fMRI study.European journal of psychotraumatology · 2025Trial
- A neurocognitive account of complex PTSD: self-modelling, affective dysregulation, and implications for MDMA-assisted and targeted psychotherapies.European journal of psychotraumatology · 2026Review
- Network-level structural alterations distinguish persistent from remitted post-traumatic stress disorder: a morphometric covariance approach.European journal of psychotraumatology · 2026Article
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Severity-related Accelerated Aging, Hippocampal Volume, and CLDN5 DNA Methylation.Biopsychosocial science and medicine · 2026Article
- Large-Scale Data Analysis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Through GWAS Fine-Mapping and Systems Biology.Journal of personalized medicine · 2026Article
- Stress-induced plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) as a blood biomarker and brain risk factor for PTSD.Molecular psychiatry · 2026Article
208 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
54 authors.
Mark W LogueNational Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Biomedical Genetics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.
Sanne J H van RooijDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Emily L DennisImaging Genetics Center, Mary and Mark Stevens Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, California.
Sarah L DavisMid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
Jasmeet P HayesNational Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Jennifer S StevensDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Maria DensmoreDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Courtney C HaswellMid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
Jonathan IpserDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Saskia B J KochBrain Imaging Center, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Mayuresh KorgaonkarBrain Dynamics Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, Australia.
Lauren A M LeboisDepartment of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; McLean Hospital, Harvard University, Belmont, Massachusetts.
Matthew PeverillDepartment of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Justin T BakerMcLean Hospital, Harvard University, Belmont, Massachusetts.
Premika S W BoedhoeDepartment of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Jessie L FrijlingDepartment of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Staci A GruberMcLean Hospital, Harvard University, Belmont, Massachusetts.
Ilan Harpaz-RotemClinical Neuroscience Division, VA National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut HealthCare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Neda JahanshadImaging Genetics Center, Mary and Mark Stevens Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, California.
Sheri KoopowitzDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Ifat LevyClinical Neuroscience Division, VA National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut HealthCare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.
Laura NawijnDepartment of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Lauren O'ConnorDepartment of Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, New York, New York; Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York.
Miranda OlffDepartment of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Arq National Trauma Center, Diemen, the Netherlands.
David H SalatNeuroimaging Research for Veterans Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Radiology, Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts.
Margaret A SheridanDepartment of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Jeffrey M SpielbergNeuroimaging Research for Veterans Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware.
Mirjam van ZuidenDepartment of Psychiatry, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Sherry R WinternitzMcLean Hospital, Harvard University, Belmont, Massachusetts.
Jonathan D WolffDepartment of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; McLean Hospital, Harvard University, Belmont, Massachusetts.
Erika J WolfNational Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Xin WangDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio.
Kristen WrocklageClinical Neuroscience Division, VA National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut HealthCare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Chadi G AbdallahClinical Neuroscience Division, VA National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut HealthCare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Richard A BryantDepartment of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Elbert GeuzeBrain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Tanja JovanovicDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Milissa L KaufmanDepartment of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; McLean Hospital, Harvard University, Belmont, Massachusetts.
Anthony P KingDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
John H KrystalClinical Neuroscience Division, VA National Center for PTSD, VA Connecticut HealthCare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Jim LagopoulosNeuroimaging Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Maxwell BennettNeuroimaging Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Ruth LaniusNational Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Israel LiberzonDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Regina E McGlincheyTranslational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Katie A McLaughlinDepartment of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
William P MilbergTranslational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Mark W MillerNational Center for PTSD, Behavioral Science Division, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts.
Kerry J ResslerMcLean Hospital, Harvard University, Belmont, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
Dick J VeltmanDepartment of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Dan J SteinDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Kathleen ThomaesDepartment of Psychiatry, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Paul M ThompsonImaging Genetics Center, Mary and Mark Stevens Institute for Neuroimaging and Informatics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Marina del Rey, California.
Rajendra A MoreyMid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina; Duke-UNC Brain Imaging and Analysis Center, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. Electronic address: rajendra.morey@duke.edu.
Funding
Implementing a Maternal health and PRegnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone (IMPROVE)UL1TR002378 · NCATS · EMORY UNIVERSITY · PI Andres J Garcia, Elizabeth O. Ofili · 2017 to 2026
$92.1MThe VETSA Longitudinal Twin Study of Cognition and Aging (VETSA 4)R01AG050595 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · PI ELMAN, JEREMY A, FRANZ, CAROL ELAINE · 2015 to 2024
$28.0MAtlanta Clinical and Translational Science Institute (ACTSI) RenewalUL1TR000454 · NCATS · EMORY UNIVERSITY · PI STEPHENS, DAVID S · 2012 to 2016
$25.8MThe VETSA Longitudinal MRI Twin Study of AgingR01AG022381 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · PI KREMEN, WILLIAM S. · 2003 to 2019
$22.3MThe Epilepsy Bioinformatics Study for Antiepileptogenic Therapy (EpiBioS4Rx) Public Engagement CoreU54NS100064 · NINDS · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI ENGEL, JEROME NONE, GALANOPOULOU, ARISTEA S · 2017 to 2021
$21.7MX LINKED NYSTAGMUS SYNDROME WITH FEATURES OF ALBINISMM01RR000039 · NCRR · EMORY UNIVERSITY · PI QUYYUMI, ARSHED A · 1985 to 2007
$21.3MTR&D3: Intrinsic Surface MappingP41EB015922 · NIBIB · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI VAN HORN, JOHN DARRELL · 2012 to 2022
$14.1MTraining U54EB020403 · NIBIB · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · PI THOMPSON, PAUL M · 2014 to 2018
$10.1MThe VETSA Longitudinal MRI Twin Study of Aging (VETSA MRI 4)R01AG076838 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · PI ANDERS M DALE, Jeremy A Elman · 2022 to 2026
$8.7MGenetic and Trauma-Related Risk Factors for PTSDR01MH071537 · NIMH · EMORY UNIVERSITY · PI RESSLER, KERRY J. · 2005 to 2014
$8.5MPsychiatric Genomics Consortium for PTSDR01MH106595 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · PI KARESTAN C KOENEN, Caroline M Nievergelt · 2016 to 2026
$8.4MTrauma and Genomics Modulate Brain Structure across Common Psychiatric DisordersR01MH111671 · NIMH · DUKE UNIVERSITY · PI MARK W LOGUE, RAJENDRA A MOREY · 2017 to 2026
$4.4MBLRD VA I01 BX003477CIHRCSRD VA I01 CX000120CSRD VA I01 CX000748NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR000454NCATS NIH HHS UL1 TR002378NCRR NIH HHS M01 RR000039NIA NIH HHS R01 AG022381NIA NIH HHS R01 AG050595NIA NIH HHS R01 AG076838NIBIB NIH HHS P41 EB015922NIBIB NIH HHS U54 EB020403NIMH NIH HHS F32 MH101976NIMH NIH HHS F32 MH109274NIMH NIH HHS K01 MH092526NIMH NIH HHS K23 MH073091NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH071537NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH103291NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH106482NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH106595NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH110483NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH111671NIMH NIH HHS R21 MH098212NIMH NIH HHS R21 MH102834NIMH NIH HHS R21 MH112956NIMH NIH HHS R56 MH071537NIMH NIH HHS U01 MH109536NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS086885NINDS NIH HHS U54 NS100064RRD VA I01 RX000389
Abstract
backgroundMany studies report smaller hippocampal and amygdala volumes in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but findings have not always been consistent. Here, we present the results of a large-scale neuroimaging consortium study on PTSD conducted by the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC)-Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) PTSD Working Group.
methodsWe analyzed neuroimaging and clinical data from 1868 subjects (794 PTSD patients) contributed by 16 cohorts, representing the largest neuroimaging study of PTSD to date. We assessed the volumes of eight subcortical structures (nucleus accumbens, amygdala, caudate, hippocampus, pallidum, putamen, thalamus, and lateral ventricle). We used a standardized image-analysis and quality-control pipeline established by the ENIGMA consortium.
resultsIn a meta-analysis of all samples, we found significantly smaller hippocampi in subjects with current PTSD compared with trauma-exposed control subjects (Cohen's d = -0.17, p = .00054), and smaller amygdalae (d = -0.11, p = .025), although the amygdala finding did not survive a significance level that was Bonferroni corrected for multiple subcortical region comparisons (p < .0063).
conclusionsOur study is not subject to the biases of meta-analyses of published data, and it represents an important milestone in an ongoing collaborative effort to examine the neurobiological underpinnings of PTSD and the brain's response to trauma.
Indexed as
Adult Survivors of Child Adverse EventsHippocampusNeuroimagingSex CharacteristicsStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticAdultAmygdalaCohort StudiesCorpus StriatumFemaleHumansLateral VentriclesMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMulticenter Studies as TopicThalamusAmygdalaChildhood traumaGender differencesHippocampusPTSDStructural MRI
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