Title :

Low posttrauma GABA plasma levels as a predictive factor in the development of acute posttraumatic stress disorder.

Author(s) :

Vaiva, Guillaume [Auteur]
Thomas, Pierre [Auteur]
Ducrocq, François [Auteur]
Fontaine, Monique [Auteur]
Boss, Virginie [Auteur]
Devos, Patrick [Auteur]
Rascle, Claire [Auteur]
Cottencin, Olivier [Auteur]
Brunet, Alain [Auteur]
Laffargue, Philippe [Auteur]
Goudemand, Michel [Auteur]

Journal title :

Biological Psychiatry

Abbreviated title :

Biol Psychiatry

Volume number :

55

Pages :

250-4

Publisher :

Elsevier

Publication date :

2004-02-01

ISSN :

0006-3223

HAL domain(s) :

Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]/Neurosciences [q-bio.NC]

English abstract : [en]

BACKGROUND: Gamma amino-butyric acid (GABA) regulates the intensity and the duration of the central hyperadrenergic response in times of high stress and has been negatively associated with anxiety, depression, and sleep ...
Show more >BACKGROUND: Gamma amino-butyric acid (GABA) regulates the intensity and the duration of the central hyperadrenergic response in times of high stress and has been negatively associated with anxiety, depression, and sleep problems. We hypothesized that individuals with low plasma GABA levels may be more prone to develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the aftermath of trauma exposure. METHODS: To test this hypothesis, we measured plasma GABA levels in a population of 108 road traffic accident victims on arrival at a traumatology department and assessed them for PTSD 6 weeks later. RESULTS: The mean GABA level (nmol\/mL) in the PTSD group (n = 55; M =.20; SD =.08) was significantly lower compared with members of the trauma-exposed group who did not develop PTSD [n = 17; M =.30; SD =.09), t(70) = 3.94, p =.0002]. CONCLUSIONS: Provided that GABA levels in the brain are genetically predetermined, our results would suggest that individuals with low plasma GABA levels are premorbidly more vulnerable to stress-related disorders such as acute PTSD. If replicated, plasma GABA levels measured in the aftermath of trauma exposure might help to identify individuals at high risk for developing PTSD.Show less >

Language :

Anglais

Audience :

Internationale

Popular science :

Non

Administrative institution(s) :

CHU Lille
CNRS
Université de Lille

Collections :

• METRICS : Evaluation des technologies de santé et des pratiques médicales - ULR 2694

Submission date :

2020-06-08T14:11:56Z