Neural Circuits in Women With Abuse and PTSD

Inclusion Criteria:

PTSD subjects will be included who: 1) meet criteria for current PTSD as determined by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSMIV (SCID) interview for PTSD391 and the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS); 2) have a score of greater than 60 on the CAPS; 3) have a history of penetrative sexual abuse which occurred once a month or more, for a period of greater than a year at some time between the ages of 4-13, as assessed by the Early Trauma Inventory (ETI);328 4) are free of psychotropic medication for four weeks before the study (subjects will not be taken off of medication for the purpose of the study). Independent verification of abuse will be sought based on either court records, family or friends, foster parents, emergency room records, medical records, or child protection agency records (see discussion below in "Rationale"). Non-PTSD subjects will be included based on the same criteria with the exception that they do not meet criteria for PTSD.

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Exclusion Criteria:

- Women will be excluded with: 1) a history of shrapnel or other foreign bodies which would preclude MRI scanning; 2) meningitis; 3) traumatic brain injury; 4) neurological disorder or organic mental disorder; 5) history of loss of consciousness; 6) alcohol abuse or substance abuse or dependence based on the SCID within the past 24 months; 7) positive pregnancy test as measured by a serum beta-HCG on the morning of the PET scan. Women will be counseled about the risks of pregnancy during the course of the study; 8) current or lifetime history of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bulimia, based on the SCID; 9) a history of serious medical or neurological illness, such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, neurologic or other systemic illness; 10) evidence of a major medical or neurological illness on physical examination or as a result of laboratory studies (CBC, BUN, creatinine, blood sugar, electrolytes, liver and thyroid function tests, urinalysis, and EKG); 11) positive urine toxicology screen; 12) history of ongoing violence such as domestic abuse as measured by the ETI-lifetime; 13) post-menopausal status as measured by menstrual history. Non-PTSD subjects will additionally be excluded with current major depression or other major psychiatric disorder based on the SCID.