2024
Post-treatment alterations in white matter integrity in PTSD: Effects on symptoms and functional connectivity a secondary analysis of an RCT
Korem N, Duek O, Ben-Zion Z, Spiller T, Gordon C, Amen S, Levy I, Harpaz-Rotem I. Post-treatment alterations in white matter integrity in PTSD: Effects on symptoms and functional connectivity a secondary analysis of an RCT. Psychiatry Research Neuroimaging 2024, 343: 111864. PMID: 39111111, DOI: 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2024.111864.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchReduced resting-state functional connectivityPost-traumatic stress disorderPost-traumatic stress disorder symptomsFunctional connectivityPost-treatment changesReducing PTSD symptom severityFollow-up changesResting-state functional connectivityIntensive exposure therapyExposure-based psychotherapyVentromedial prefrontal cortexPTSD symptom severityReduced structural connectivityFunctional connectivity patternsPost-treatmentWhite matter integrityPrefrontal cortexExposure therapyPTSD symptomsStress disorderSymptom severityUncinate fasciculusLimbic systemSecondary analysisAssociated with sustained changes
2023
Evaluating a novel 8-factor dimensional model of PTSD in U.S. military veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study
Stiltner B, Fischer I, Duek O, Polimanti R, Harpaz-Rotem I, Pietrzak R. Evaluating a novel 8-factor dimensional model of PTSD in U.S. military veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2023, 346: 303-307. PMID: 37979626, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.11.041.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIndex traumaPTSD symptomsNational HealthPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomsVeterans StudyMilitary veteransTrauma-exposed populationsClinician-administered interviewU.S. military veteransConfirmatory factor analysisDSM-5 modelStrong significant associationTrauma exposureIntrusive symptomsDisorder symptomsCombat exposureHigh riskU.S. veteransDSM-5Significant associationSymptomsInterpersonal violenceFactor analysisPTSDScarce researchChanges in mental health among U.S. military veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic: A network analysis
Spiller T, Na P, Merians A, Duek O, Ben-Zion Z, Tsai J, von Känel R, Harpaz-Rotem I, Pietrzak R. Changes in mental health among U.S. military veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic: A network analysis. Journal Of Psychiatric Research 2023, 165: 352-359. PMID: 37595331, DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.08.003.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderSymptoms of PTSDTraumatic eventsPosttraumatic growthU.S. military veteransPTSD symptomsSuicidal ideationMental healthMilitary veteransIncrease of symptomsPopulation-based sampleCOVID-19 pandemicFirst yearStress disorderMost veteransSymptomsFirst monthPsychopathological symptomsGeneral resilienceGroup levelAnxietyVeteransIndividual reactionsDepressionSubtle increaseNot all traumas are created equal: Phenotypic heterogeneity of PTSD symptoms in relation to index traumas in U.S. military veterans
Kachadourian L, Duek O, Tsai J, Harpaz-Rotem I, Pietrzak R. Not all traumas are created equal: Phenotypic heterogeneity of PTSD symptoms in relation to index traumas in U.S. military veterans. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2023, 340: 728-731. PMID: 37572698, PMCID: PMC10754253, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.08.012.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderU.S. military veteransMilitary veteransIndex traumaPTSD symptomsDysphoric arousal symptomsIllness/injuryGreater overall severityIndex traumatic eventClinical presentationNational HealthDiagnostic criteriaTreatment approachesGreater severityOverall severityVeterans StudyInterpersonal violenceStress disorderTraumaArousal symptomsSymptomsVeteransPhenotypic heterogeneityTraumatic eventsSeverityAmygdala downregulation training using fMRI neurofeedback in post-traumatic stress disorder: a randomized, double-blind trial
Zhao Z, Duek O, Seidemann R, Gordon C, Walsh C, Romaker E, Koller W, Horvath M, Awasthi J, Wang Y, O’Brien E, Fichtenholtz H, Hampson M, Harpaz-Rotem I. Amygdala downregulation training using fMRI neurofeedback in post-traumatic stress disorder: a randomized, double-blind trial. Translational Psychiatry 2023, 13: 177. PMID: 37230984, PMCID: PMC10209552, DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02467-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPost-traumatic stress disorderControl groupAmygdala activityPTSD treatmentDouble-blind clinical trialStress disorderDouble-blind trialSecondary outcome measurementsTrauma recallNeurofeedback trainingGreater improvementAmygdala controlsPotential clinical applicationsSymptom scoresActive groupClinical trialsTreatment successOutcome measurementsTrauma scriptsSymptom reductionNeurofeedback interventionPTSD symptomsFMRI neurofeedbackAmygdalaNeural markersClinical significance of novel 8-factor model of DSM-5 PTSD in national VA PTSD residential treatment data: Internally- v. externally-cued intrusions
Gross G, Spiller T, Duek O, Pietrzak R, Harpaz-Rotem I. Clinical significance of novel 8-factor model of DSM-5 PTSD in national VA PTSD residential treatment data: Internally- v. externally-cued intrusions. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2023, 328: 255-260. PMID: 36806596, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.02.046.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPosttraumatic stress disorderPTSD symptomsDysphoric arousalDSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorderDSM-5 PTSD symptomsDistinct underlying processesSelf-report measuresGeneralized anxiety symptomsSuperior model fitPhysical health functioningCore defining featuresStructural equation modelingWorse emotional functioningAnxious arousalSymptoms of depressionNegative affectIntrusion symptomsGreater avoidanceEmotional functioningStress disorderAnxiety symptomsPTSD ChecklistIntrusion factorCross-sectional designGeneralized anxietyUnderlying Hippocampal Mechanism of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Outcome: Evidence From Two Clinical Trials
Zilcha-Mano S, Duek O, Suarez-Jimenez B, Zhu X, Lazarov A, Helpman L, Korem N, Malka M, Harpaz-Rotem I, Neria Y. Underlying Hippocampal Mechanism of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment Outcome: Evidence From Two Clinical Trials. Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science 2023, 3: 867-874. PMID: 37881552, PMCID: PMC10593870, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.01.005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPosttraumatic stress disorderRight hippocampal volumeHippocampal volumeSymptom reductionPosttreatment magnetic resonance imagingPosttraumatic stress disorder treatment outcomeLarger hippocampal volumesDisorder treatment outcomesPTSD symptom reductionMagnetic resonance imagingGreater PTSD symptom reductionBetter prognosisClinical trialsTreatment outcomesDepressive symptomsTherapeutic outcomesPTSD treatmentResonance imagingTreatment studiesClinical targetsStress disorderPTSD symptomsSmall sample sizeHippocampal mechanismsTreatment
2022
Distinguishing emotional numbing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder from major depressive disorder
Duek O, Seidemann R, Pietrzak R, Harpaz-Rotem I. Distinguishing emotional numbing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder from major depressive disorder. Journal Of Affective Disorders 2022, 324: 294-299. PMID: 36586605, DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2022.12.105.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsEmotional numbing symptomsPosttraumatic stress disorderNumbing symptomsEmotional numbingStress disorderSymptom clustersTrauma-exposed individualsGreater PTSD severityMajor depressive disorderContext of traumaUnique variancePTSD symptomsPTSD phenotypePTSD severityDifferent symptom clustersWorse treatment outcomesDepressive disorderCore aspectsNumbingDistinct contributionsMDD symptomsDSM-IIIFunctional impairmentDisordersTreatment outcomes
2021
Cannabinoid Receptor 1 rs1049353 Variant, Childhood Abuse, and the Heterogeneity of PTSD Symptoms: Results From the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study
Korem N, Duek O, Xu K, Harpaz-Rotem I, Pietrzak RH. Cannabinoid Receptor 1 rs1049353 Variant, Childhood Abuse, and the Heterogeneity of PTSD Symptoms: Results From the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Chronic Stress 2021, 5: 24705470211011075. PMID: 33997583, PMCID: PMC8107935, DOI: 10.1177/24705470211011075.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPosttraumatic stress disorderOverall PTSD symptomsAnxious arousal symptomsPTSD symptomsNational HealthChildhood abuseVeterans StudySymptom clustersArousal symptomsAllele carrier statusArousal symptom clustersMultivariable analysisEndocannabinoid systemAllele carriersPTSD symptom clustersGene-environment studiesGreater severityG homozygotesU.S. veteransSymptomsStress disorderCarrier statusReceptor geneDisordersSignificant main effect