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Fulton T, Lathan EC, Karkare MC, Guelfo A, Eghbalzad L, Ahluwalia V, Ely TD, Turner JA, Turner MD, Currier JM, Mekawi Y, Fani N. Civilian Moral Injury and Amygdala Functional Connectivity During Attention to Threat. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2024; 9:112-120. [PMID: 37487958 PMCID: PMC10803642 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2023.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Moral injury references emotional and spiritual/existential suffering that may emerge following psychological trauma. Despite being linked to adverse mental health outcomes, little is known about the neurophysiological mechanisms of this phenomenon. In this study, we examined neural correlates of moral injury exposure and distress using the Moral Injury Exposure and Symptom Scale for Civilians. We also examined potential moderation of these effects by race (Black vs. White individuals) given the likely intersection of race-related stress with moral injury. METHODS Forty-eight adults ages 18 to 65 years (mean age = 30.56, SD = 11.93) completed the Moral Injury Exposure and Symptom Scale for Civilians and an affective attentional control measure, the affective Stroop task (AS), during functional magnetic resonance imaging; the AS includes presentation of threat-relevant and neutral distractor stimuli. Voxelwise functional connectivity of the bilateral amygdala was examined in response to threat-relevant versus neutral AS distractor trials. RESULTS Functional connectivity between the right amygdala and left postcentral gyrus/primary somatosensory cortex was positively correlated with the Moral Injury Exposure and Symptom Scale for Civilians exposure score (voxelwise p < .001, cluster false discovery rate-corrected p < .05) in response to threat versus neutral AS distractor trials. Follow-up analyses revealed significant effects of race; Black but not White participants demonstrated this significant pattern of amygdala-left somatosensory cortex connectivity. CONCLUSIONS Increased exposure to potentially morally injurious events may lead to emotion-somatosensory pathway disruptions during attention to threat-relevant stimuli. These effects may be most potent for individuals who have experienced multilayered exposure to morally injurious events, including racial trauma. Moral injury appears to have a distinct neurobiological signature that involves abnormalities in connectivity of emotion-somatosensory paths, which may be amplified by race-related stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis Fulton
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia; Molecular and Systems Pharmacology PhD Program, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Emma C Lathan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Maya C Karkare
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Alfonsina Guelfo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Leyla Eghbalzad
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Vishwadeep Ahluwalia
- Center for Advanced Brain Imaging, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Timothy D Ely
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | | | - Joseph M Currier
- Department of Psychology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama
| | - Yara Mekawi
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Negar Fani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
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Vancappel A, Raysseguier C, Révellière C, Penverne T, Fernandes R, El-Hage W. Inhibition, Attentional Control and Binding Abilities in Relation to Dissociative Symptoms Among PTSD Patients. J Trauma Dissociation 2023; 24:609-623. [PMID: 36992662 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2023.2195397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The relationship between dissociation and cognitive abilities remains controversial. Empirical studies have reported positive, negative and non-existent associations between dissociation and cognition. These inconsistent results may be due to the fact that the studies focused mainly on trait dissociation, while dissociation is not stable but transient. After validating the French version of the Clinician Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS), the aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between state dissociation and cognitive abilities. METHOD We recruited 83 patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and assessed them twice. At T1, they performed a neutral Stroop task and a neutral binding task. At T2 (one to three weeks later), after a script-driven dissociative induction, they performed an emotional Stroop task and an emotional binding task. Between the two sessions, they completed questionnaires at home evaluating PTSD severity, trait dissociation and cognitive difficulties. State dissociation was assessed at T1 and T2 using the Clinician-Administered Dissociative States Scale (CADSS). RESULTS We found good psychometric properties of the French version of the CADSS. After inducing dissociation, significantly lower attentional performance was found among patients with than without dissociative reactions. We found a significant positive correlation between state dissociation and increased attention and memory difficulties after induction. CONCLUSION The French version of the CADSS is a reliable and valid tool to assess state dissociation, which is correlated with attentional difficulties. Attentional training is recommended to help patients control dissociative symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Vancappel
- CHRU de Tours, Pôle de Psychiatrie-Addictologie, Tours, France
- Département de Psychologie, EE 1901 QualiPsy, Qualité de vie et santé psychologique, Tours, France
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
| | - C Raysseguier
- CHRU de Tours, Pôle de Psychiatrie-Addictologie, Tours, France
| | - C Révellière
- Département de Psychologie, EE 1901 QualiPsy, Qualité de vie et santé psychologique, Tours, France
| | - T Penverne
- CHRU de Tours, Pôle de Psychiatrie-Addictologie, Tours, France
| | - R Fernandes
- CHRU de Tours, Pôle de Psychiatrie-Addictologie, Tours, France
| | - W El-Hage
- CHRU de Tours, Pôle de Psychiatrie-Addictologie, Tours, France
- UMR 1253, iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, Tours, France
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Lathan EC, Sheikh IS, Guelfo A, Choucair KC, Fulton T, Julian J, Mekawi Y, Currier JM, Powers A, Fani N. Moral injury appraisals and dissociation: Associations in a sample of trauma-exposed community members. J Trauma Dissociation 2023; 24:692-711. [PMID: 37387238 PMCID: PMC10771817 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2023.2231010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Appraisal of trauma is a critical factor in the development of impairing post-traumatic stress symptoms, such as dissociation. Individuals may appraise trauma as morally injurious (i.e., moral injury exposure [MIE]) and experience subsequent moral distress related to this exposure (i.e., moral injury distress [MID]). To date, however, investigation into the relations between moral injury appraisals and dissociation has been limited, particularly within community populations. This study investigated MIE and MID in relation to six facets of dissociation (disengagement, depersonalization, derealization, memory disturbances, emotional constriction, identity dissociation) in a sample of trauma-exposed community members (n = 177, 58.2% Black, 89.3% female) recruited from a public hospital and/or community advertisements. Participants completed measures assessing trauma exposure, MIE, MID, dissociation, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Partial correlation analyses revealed that after controlling for PTSD symptoms, MIE was correlated with disengagement, r = .23, p ≤ .025, and depersonalization, r = .25, p ≤ .001, and MID was correlated with depersonalization, r = .19, p ≤ .025. Sex moderated each association, with stronger associations observed for female participants. Findings suggest that moral injury appraisals are linked to more severe dissociative symptoms among female civilians, and as such, may need to be specifically targeted in empirically supported treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C. Lathan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | | | - Alfonsina Guelfo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Khaled C. Choucair
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Travis Fulton
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology PhD Program, Emory University
| | - Jacob Julian
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University
| | - Yara Mekawi
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville
| | | | - Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
| | - Negar Fani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine
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Lathan EC, Powers A, Kottakis A, Guelfo A, Siegle GJ, Turner JA, Turner MD, Yakkanti V, Jain J, Mekawi Y, Teer AP, Currier JM, Fani N. Civilian moral injury: associations with trauma type and high-frequency heart rate variability in two trauma-exposed community-based samples. Psychol Med 2023; 53:5136-5145. [PMID: 37650341 PMCID: PMC10476056 DOI: 10.1017/s003329172200215x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Moral injury exposure (MIE) and distress (MID) may indirectly affect the relationship between trauma exposure and alterations in autonomic regulation [assessed via high-frequency heart rate variability (hfHRV)] in civilians, but this has not been tested in prior research. We conducted two exploratory studies to examine trauma types' associations with MIE and MID among civilian medical patients (Study 1) and explore how these facets may indirectly affect the relationship between trauma type and hfHRV among civilians seeking mental health services (Study 2). METHODS Participants recruited from a public hospital and/or community advertisements (Study 1, n = 72, 87.5% Black, 83.3% women; Study 2, n = 46, 71.7% Black, 97.8% women) completed measures assessing trauma type, MIE, and MID. In Study 1, trauma types that emerged as significant correlates of MIE and MID were entered into separate linear regression analyses. Trauma types identified were included as predictors in indirect effects models with MIE or MID as the mediator and resting hfHRV (assayed via electrocardiography) as the outcome. RESULTS Childhood sexual abuse emerged as the only significant predictor of MIE, b = 0.38, p < 0.001; childhood sexual abuse, b = 0.26, p < 0.05, and adulthood sexual assault, b = 0.23, p < 0.05 were significant predictors of MID. Participants with greater MIE and MID demonstrated lower hfHRV. Adulthood sexual assault showed an indirect effect on hfHRV through MID, B = -0.10, s.e. = 0.06, 95%CI (-0.232 to -0.005). CONCLUSIONS Moral injury was uniquely associated with sexual violence and lower hfHRV in civilians. Data highlight moral injury as a pathway through which autonomic dysregulation may emerge and its salience for trauma treatment selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C. Lathan
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Abigail Powers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anna Kottakis
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alfonsina Guelfo
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Greg J. Siegle
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jessica A. Turner
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Matthew D. Turner
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Vijwala Yakkanti
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jahnvi Jain
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yara Mekawi
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Andrew P. Teer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Joseph M. Currier
- Department of Psychology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL, USA
| | - Negar Fani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Gottfredson RK, Becker WJ. How past trauma impacts emotional intelligence: Examining the connection. Front Psychol 2023; 14:1067509. [PMID: 37275697 PMCID: PMC10234103 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1067509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Backed by both research and practice, the organizational psychology field has come to value emotional intelligence (EI) as being vital for leader and employee effectiveness. While this field values EI, it has paid little attention to the antecedents of emotional intelligence, leaving the EI domain without clarity on (1) why EI might vary across individuals, and (2) how to best develop EI. In this article, we rely on neuroscience and psychology research to make the case that past psychological trauma impacts later EI capabilities. Specifically, we present evidence that psychological trauma impairs the brain areas and functions that support EI. Establishing psychological trauma has valuable theoretical and practical implications that include providing an explanation of why EI might vary across individuals and providing a focus for improving EI: healing from past trauma. Further theoretical and practical implications for the field of organizational psychology are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan K Gottfredson
- Department of Management, College of Business and Economics, California State University, Fullerton, CA, United States
| | - William J Becker
- Department of Management, Pamplin College of Business, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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Kandeğer A, Boysan M, Karaoğlan G, Tekdemir R, Şen B, Tan Ö, Sağlıyan B, Selvi Y. Heterogeneity of associations between dissociation and attention deficit symptoms. CURRENT PSYCHOLOGY 2022; 42:1-14. [PMID: 36406851 PMCID: PMC9647769 DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-03836-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Childhood trauma and dissociative experiences are suggested to be predisposing transdiagnostic factors for attention deficit /hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as well as many psychiatric disorders. Trauma-related symptoms such as motor restlessness, emotional instability, and concentration problems can mimic, trigger, or exacerbate ADHD symptoms. Moreover, given the relationship between ADHD and trauma-induced distress, it has been suggested that dissociative experiences and attention problems may reveal overlapping characteristics. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between dissociative experiences and attention deficits by carrying out mixture analysis. A thousand and thirty-seven participants volunteered to the online investigation. Participants completed a test battery that included a sociodemographic form as well as the Adult ADHD Severity Rating Scale (ASRS), Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), and Somatoform Dissociation Questionnaire (SDQ). Item responses on the DES and attention deficit symptoms as indexed by the ASRS were subjected to latent class analysis. The three-latent-class model outperformed alternative mixture models. Mixture analysis classified the sample into three homogenous subgroups as follows: (1) No/low dissociation or attention problems; (2) Moderate dissociation with attention problems; and (3) High dissociation with attention problems. High dissociators with attention problems were characterized by heightened scores on somatoform dissociation and emotional neglect. No/low dissociation or attention problems latent class reported significantly lower scores on hyperactivity/impulsivity, depression, attention deficit in childhood, and sexual abuse than both moderate and high dissociation latent classes. High dissociators and moderate dissociators significantly differed on conduct problems and physical abuse. We concluded that impulsive hyperactivity, depression, and childhood sexual abuse were common features in heightened dissociation latent classes, as well as attention deficit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Kandeğer
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Murat Boysan
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ankara Social Sciences University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Gizem Karaoğlan
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Rukiye Tekdemir
- Department of Psychiatry, Atatürk Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery, Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Barış Şen
- Department of Psychiatry, Biga State Hospital, Çanakkale, Turkey
| | - Özge Tan
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Bilal Sağlıyan
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Yavuz Selvi
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey
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Arshad F, Clark L. Immersion in Substance-Related and Behavioural Addictions: Neural Systems and Neurochemical Substrates. Curr Behav Neurosci Rep 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40473-021-00242-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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8
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Fani N, Carter SE, Harnett NG, Ressler KJ, Bradley B. Association of Racial Discrimination With Neural Response to Threat in Black Women in the US Exposed to Trauma. JAMA Psychiatry 2021; 78:1005-1012. [PMID: 34319369 PMCID: PMC8319825 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2021.1480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Racial discrimination has a clear impact on health-related outcomes, but little is known about how discriminatory experiences are associated with neural response patterns to emotionally salient cues, which likely mediates these outcomes. OBJECTIVE To examine associations of discriminatory experiences with brainwide response to threat-relevant cues in trauma-exposed US Black women as they engage in an attentionally demanding task. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 1, 2014, to July 1, 2019, among 55 trauma-exposed US Black women to examine associations of racial discrimination experiences with patterns of neural response and behavior to trauma-relevant images in an affective attentional control task. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and trauma exposure were entered as covariates to isolate variance associated with experiences of racial discrimination. EXPOSURES Varying levels of trauma, PTSD symptoms, and experiences of racial discrimination. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Experiences of Discrimination Questionnaire (EOD) (range, 0-9) for count of the number of situations for which each participant reported having unfair treatment for a racial reason. Experiences of trauma and PTSD symptoms were assessed with the Traumatic Events Inventory (TEI) (number of times the person was exposed to trauma; score range, 0-112) and PTSD Symptom Scale (PSS) (score range, 0-51). Response to trauma-relevant vs neutral distractor cues were assessed via functional magnetic resonance imaging during performance of an affective Stroop (attentional control) task. Statistical analyses were conducted at a whole-brain, voxelwise level with familywise error correction. RESULTS In this study of 55 Black women in the US (mean [SD] age, 37.7 [10.7] years; range, 21-61 years), participants reported a mean (SD) TEI frequency of 33.0 (18.8) and showed moderate levels of current PTSD symptoms (mean [SD] PSS score, 15.4 [12.9]). Mean (SD) EOD scores were 2.35 (2.44) and were moderately correlated with current PTSD symptoms (PSS total: r = 0.36; P=.009) but not with age (r = 0.20; P = .15) or TEI frequency (r = -0.02; P = .89). During attention to trauma-relevant vs neutral images, more experiences of racial discrimination were associated with significantly greater response in nodes of emotion regulation and fear inhibition (ventromedial prefrontal cortex) and visual attention (middle occipital cortex) networks, even after accounting for trauma and severity of PTSD symptoms (brainwide familywise error corrected; r = 0.33 for ventromedial prefrontal cortex; P = .02). Racial discrimination was also associated with affective Stroop task performance; errors on trials with threat-relevant stimuli were negatively correlated with experiences of racial discrimination (r = -0.41; P = .003). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings suggest that experiences of racial discrimination associate with disproportionately greater response in brain regions associated with emotion regulation and fear inhibition and visual attention. Frequent racism experienced by Black individuals may potentiate attentional and regulatory responses to trauma-relevant stressors and lead to heightened modulation of regulatory resources. This may represent an important neurobiological pathway for race-related health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negar Fani
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Nathaniel G. Harnett
- Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kerry J. Ressler
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia,Division of Depression and Anxiety, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bekh Bradley
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia,Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia
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Krause-Utz A, Frost R, Chatzaki E, Winter D, Schmahl C, Elzinga BM. Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder: Recent Experimental, Neurobiological Studies, and Implications for Future Research and Treatment. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2021; 23:37. [PMID: 33909198 PMCID: PMC8081699 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-021-01246-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The aim of this review article is to give an overview over recent experimental neurobiological research on dissociation in borderline personality disorder (BPD), in order to inform clinicians and to stimulate further research. First, we introduce basic definitions and models that conceptualize dissociation from a transdiagnostic perspective. Then, we discuss recent findings in BPD. RECENT FINDINGS Stress-related dissociation is a key symptom of BPD, closely linked to other core domains of the disorder (emotion dysregulation, identity disturbances, and interpersonal disturbances). The understanding of neurobiological correlates of dissociation across different psychiatric disorders (e.g., dissociative disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder) is steadily increasing. At the same time, studies explicitly focusing on dissociation in BPD are still scarce. There is evidence for adverse effects of dissociation on affective-cognitive functioning (e.g., interference inhibition), body perception, and psychotherapeutic treatment response in BPD. On the neural level, increased activity in frontal regions (e.g., inferior frontal gyrus) and temporal areas (e.g., inferior and superior temporal gyrus) during symptom provocation tasks and during resting state was observed, although findings are still diverse and need to be replicated. Conceptual differences and methodological differences in study designs and sample characteristics (e.g., comorbidities, trauma history) hinder a straightforward interpretation and comparison of studies. Given the potentially detrimental impact of dissociation in BPD, more research on the topic is strongly needed to deepen the understanding of this complex clinical condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annegret Krause-Utz
- Institute of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Rachel Frost
- Department of Psychology, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Elianne Chatzaki
- Institute of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Dorina Winter
- Pain and Psychotherapy Research Lab, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany
| | - Christian Schmahl
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Bernet M Elzinga
- Institute of Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Leiden Institute for Brain and Cognition (LIBC), Leiden, The Netherlands
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Roydeva MI, Reinders AATS. Biomarkers of Pathological Dissociation: A Systematic Review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 123:120-202. [PMID: 33271160 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pathological dissociation is a severe, debilitating and transdiagnostic psychiatric symptom. This review identifies biomarkers of pathological dissociation in a transdiagnostic manner to recommend the most promising research and treatment pathways in support of the precision medicine framework. A total of 205 unique studies that met inclusion criteria were included. Studies were divided into four biomarker categories, namely neuroimaging, psychobiological, psychophysiological and genetic biomarkers. The dorsomedial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, bilateral superior frontal regions, (anterior) cingulate, posterior association areas and basal ganglia are identified as neurofunctional biomarkers of pathological dissociation and decreased hippocampal, basal ganglia and thalamic volumes as neurostructural biomarkers. Increased oxytocin and prolactin and decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) are identified as psychobiological markers. Psychophysiological biomarkers, including blood pressure, heart rate and skin conductance, were inconclusive. For the genetic biomarker category studies related to dissociation were limited and no clear directionality of effect was found to warrant identification of a genetic biomarker. Recommendations for future research pathways and possible clinical applicability are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika I Roydeva
- Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Antje A T S Reinders
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom.
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Thome J, Densmore M, Koppe G, Terpou B, Théberge J, McKinnon MC, Lanius RA. Back to the Basics: Resting State Functional Connectivity of the Reticular Activation System in PTSD and its Dissociative Subtype. CHRONIC STRESS (THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF.) 2019; 3:2470547019873663. [PMID: 32440600 PMCID: PMC7219926 DOI: 10.1177/2470547019873663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brainstem and midbrain neuronal circuits that control innate, reflexive responses and arousal are increasingly recognized as central to the neurobiological framework of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The reticular activation system represents a fundamental neuronal circuit that plays a critical role not only in generating arousal but also in coordinating innate, reflexive responding. Accordingly, the present investigation aims to characterize the resting state functional connectivity of the reticular activation system in PTSD and its dissociative subtype. METHODS We investigated patterns of resting state functional connectivity of a central node of the reticular activation system, namely, the pedunculopontine nuclei, among individuals with PTSD (n = 77), its dissociative subtype (PTSD+DS; n = 48), and healthy controls (n = 51). RESULTS Participants with PTSD and PTSD+DS were characterized by within-group pedunculopontine nuclei resting state functional connectivity to brain regions involved in innate threat processing and arousal modulation (i.e., midbrain, amygdala, ventromedial prefrontal cortex). Critically, this pattern was most pronounced in individuals with PTSD+DS, as compared to both control and PTSD groups. As compared to participants with PTSD and controls, individuals with PTSD+DS showed enhanced pedunculopontine nuclei resting state functional connectivity to the amygdala and the parahippocampal gyrus as well as to the anterior cingulate and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. No group differences emerged between PTSD and control groups. In individuals with PTSD+DS, state derealization/depersonalization was associated with reduced resting state functional connectivity between the left pedunculopontine nuclei and the anterior nucleus of the thalamus. Altered connectivity in these regions may restrict the thalamo-cortical transmission necessary to integrate internal and external signals at a cortical level and underlie, in part, experiences of depersonalization and derealization. CONCLUSIONS The present findings extend the current neurobiological model of PTSD and provide emerging evidence for the need to incorporate brainstem structures, including the reticular activation system, into current conceptualizations of PTSD and its dissociative subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine Thome
- Department of Psychiatry, Western
University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Theoretical Neuroscience,
Central
Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Medical
Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry,
Central
Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Medical
Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Maria Densmore
- Department of Psychiatry, Western
University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Imaging Division,
Lawson
Health Research Institute, London, Ontario,
Canada
| | - Georgia Koppe
- Department of Theoretical Neuroscience,
Central
Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Medical
Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry,
Central
Institute of Mental Health Mannheim, Medical
Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Braeden Terpou
- Department of Psychiatry, Western
University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Western
University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean Théberge
- Department of Psychiatry, Western
University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Imaging Division,
Lawson
Health Research Institute, London, Ontario,
Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics,
Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Margaret C. McKinnon
- Homewood Research Institute, Guelph,
Ontario, Canada
- Mood Disorder Programs, St. Joseph's
Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ruth A. Lanius
- Department of Psychiatry, Western
University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Imaging Division,
Lawson
Health Research Institute, London, Ontario,
Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, Western
University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Homewood Research Institute, Guelph,
Ontario, Canada
| |
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