Citation

Weniger G, Lange C, Sachsse U, Irle E. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 2008; 118(4): 281-290.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01246.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Objective: Trauma‐exposed individuals with post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) display reduced amygdala and hippocampal size and impaired cognition. However, studies on trauma‐exposed individuals with dissociative amnesia (DA) or dissociative identity disorder (DID) are lacking.

Method: Twenty‐three young women who had experienced severe childhood sexual/physical abuse, diagnosed with DA/DID or PTSD, and 25 healthy control subjects were subjected to 3D structural magnetic resonance imaging of amygdala and hippocampus and a clinical and neuropsychological investigation.

Results: Compared with controls, trauma‐exposed subjects with PTSD (n = 10) displayed significantly reduced amygdala and hippocampal size and significantly impaired cognition. By contrast, trauma‐exposed subjects with DA or DID (n = 13) displayed normal amygdala and hippocampal size and normal cognition.

Conclusion: We report for the first time volumetric results in subjects with DA/DID without PTSD as comorbid diagnosis. Our results indicate preserved amygdala and hippocampal size and preserved cognition in subjects with these disorders.