CHANGES OF BRAIN ANATOMY IN PATIENTS WITH POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER - A PILOT MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING STUDY

No abnormalities in magnetic resonance images were recorded in patient s with posttraumatic stress disorder other than an increased incidence (50%) of a small cleft in the callosal-septal interface, a cavum of t he septum pellucidum. A similar grade of cavum was obtained in 14% of normal volunteers matched for age, socioeconomic background, and milit ary experience. The cavum is believed to have antedated the disorder a nd is conceived to be a neurodevelopmental aberration. The possibility that the cavum is a marker of vulnerability to stress in psychopathol ogy is discussed.