Neurobiological response to trauma-related and general negative words in men firefighters with post-traumatic stress disorder, compared to trauma-exposed and trauma non-exposed controls: A pilot study.

Abstract

Although firefighters frequently encounter various traumatic incidents, few develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this pilot study, we aimed to examine trauma-specific neurobiological alterations in firefighters with PTSD, distinguishing these characteristics from those of trauma-exposed controls. Twenty-two firefighters (11 firefighters with PTSD and 11 trauma-exposed controls) and 25 trauma non-exposed controls completed psychiatric questionnaires and functional magnetic resonance imaging while engaging in a trauma-specific emotional counting Stroop task for firefighters. In response to general negative words, the firefighter group exhibited increased brain activity in the left and right superior parietal lobes, left cingulate gyrus, and right medial frontal gyrus compared to the trauma non-exposed control group. In response to trauma-related words, the firefighter group displayed increased brain activity in the left and right superior parietal lobes, left and right middle temporal gyri, and precuneus compared to the trauma non-exposed control group. In response to general negative words, firefighters with PTSD exhibited increased brain activity in the right and left middle temporal gyri compared to trauma-exposed controls. In response to trauma-related words, firefighters with PTSD displayed decreased brain activity in the right and left middle frontal gyri compared to trauma-exposed controls. Among firefighters with PTSD, brain activity in the left middle frontal gyrus in response to trauma-related words negatively correlated with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale total score. Collectively, firefighters with PTSD demonstrate reduced brain activation within the middle frontal gyrus in response to trauma-related words, indicating a compromised top-down control mechanism.