Study: MEG shines where CT, MRI has failed for post-traumatic stress
Researchers have reportedly identified a biological marker in the brains of those exhibiting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using magnetoencephalography (MEG), based on a study published Jan. 20 in the Journal of Neural Engineering.
Traumatic experiences can produce PTSD, which is a debilitating condition and for which no biomarker currently exists, according to the Institute of Medicine's 2006 report, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Diagnosis and Assessment. Previously, conventional brain scans, such as x-ray, CT or MRI, have failed to identify such a biomarker.
Researchers, led by Apostolos Georgopoulos, MD, PhD, and Brian Engdahl, PhD, from the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis VA Medical Center in Minneapolis, examined 74 U.S. veterans involved in the study, which objectively diagnosed PTSD using MEG, a non-invasive measurement of magnetic fields in the brain.
The ability to objectively diagnose PTSD could be the first step towards helping those afflicted with the severe anxiety disorder, according to the authors. PTSD often stems from war, but also can be a result of exposure to any psychologically traumatic event. The disorder can manifest itself in flashbacks, recurring nightmares, anger or hypervigilance.
With more than 90 percent accuracy, the researchers were able to differentiate PTSD patients from healthy control subjects (250 people with clean mental health) using the MEG.
The scanner has 248 sensors, which, according to the authors, record the interactions in the brain on a millisecond by millisecond basis, faster than current methods of evaluation such as the functional MRI, which takes seconds to record. The measurements recorded by the MEG represent the workings of tens of thousands of brain cells. This recording method allowed researchers to locate biomarkers in the brains of patients exhibiting PTSD.
"These findings document robust differences in brain function between the PTSD and control groups that can be used for differential diagnosis and which possess the potential for assessing and monitoring disease progression and effects of therapy," Georgopoulos said.
Besides diagnosing those with PTSD, the researchers said they also are able to judge the severity of how much they are suffering, which means the MEG may be able to be used to gauge how badly patients are impacted by other brain disorders.
The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Traumatic experiences can produce PTSD, which is a debilitating condition and for which no biomarker currently exists, according to the Institute of Medicine's 2006 report, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Diagnosis and Assessment. Previously, conventional brain scans, such as x-ray, CT or MRI, have failed to identify such a biomarker.
Researchers, led by Apostolos Georgopoulos, MD, PhD, and Brian Engdahl, PhD, from the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis VA Medical Center in Minneapolis, examined 74 U.S. veterans involved in the study, which objectively diagnosed PTSD using MEG, a non-invasive measurement of magnetic fields in the brain.
The ability to objectively diagnose PTSD could be the first step towards helping those afflicted with the severe anxiety disorder, according to the authors. PTSD often stems from war, but also can be a result of exposure to any psychologically traumatic event. The disorder can manifest itself in flashbacks, recurring nightmares, anger or hypervigilance.
With more than 90 percent accuracy, the researchers were able to differentiate PTSD patients from healthy control subjects (250 people with clean mental health) using the MEG.
The scanner has 248 sensors, which, according to the authors, record the interactions in the brain on a millisecond by millisecond basis, faster than current methods of evaluation such as the functional MRI, which takes seconds to record. The measurements recorded by the MEG represent the workings of tens of thousands of brain cells. This recording method allowed researchers to locate biomarkers in the brains of patients exhibiting PTSD.
"These findings document robust differences in brain function between the PTSD and control groups that can be used for differential diagnosis and which possess the potential for assessing and monitoring disease progression and effects of therapy," Georgopoulos said.
Besides diagnosing those with PTSD, the researchers said they also are able to judge the severity of how much they are suffering, which means the MEG may be able to be used to gauge how badly patients are impacted by other brain disorders.
The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.