Study on changes of bilateral hippocampus volume in drivers with post-traumatic stress disorder in emergency center

Objective To study changes in bilateral hippocampal volume of drivers with post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD)in emergency center. Methods Fifteen drivers with PTSD were included in the observation group, and 15 without PTSD were included in the control group. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)was performed in both groups. The changes of bilateral hippocampal volume in the two groups were compared, and the correlations between bilateral hippocampal volume and clinician-administered PTSD scale(CAPS), post-traumatic duration and age in the observation group were analyzed. Results Compared with the control group, the left hippocampal volume of the observation group was significantly reduced(P<0.05). The volume of the left hippocampus was negatively correlated with CAPS scores and post-traumatic duration in the observation group(P<0.05). Conclusion The left hippocampal volume of emergency center drivers with PTSD is significantly reduced, and hippocampal damage is associated with severity of the illness and duration of post-trauma.