Project Summary

Amy S. Garrett, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2003) of Stanford University, notes that brain imaging studies indicate that children with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have increased neural responses to socially threatening stimuli, such as pictures of angry faces.  Dr. Garrett seeks to identify familial factors in brain activity between children with PTSD and their non-PTSD siblings.  Similarities may indicate a genetic predisposition to PTSD.  Activation in brain regions that respond to angry faces such as the amygdala, frontal cortex and anterior cingulate will be analyzed.  Comparisons will be made between PTSD children, unaffected siblings and healthy controls.  This research may lead to a better understanding of the causes of PTSD and to potential treatments.

Program Area: ANXIETY DISORDERS\Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)\Children/Adolescent

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