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Objective: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may disrupt the social functioning of the patients and clinical severity of this disorder might be inşuenced by many factors. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of neural excitability on clinical severity of PTSD.
Method: 37 patients diagnosed with PTSD according to DSM-IV-TR criteria were enrolled to the study. Neural excitability of the patients was measured by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). To evaluate the clinical severity in patients with PTSD, clinician-administered PTSD scale-2 (CAPS-II) was used.
Results: Left Motor threshold (MUE) and CAPS total (r=-0401, p=0.019), CAPS avoidance (r=-0346, p=0.045) and CAPS excessive arousal (r=-0426, p=0.012) subscale scores were negatively correlated. There were negative correlation right-left contralateral cortical silent period (CSP) and CAPS total, intrusiveness, avoidance, excessive arousal subscale scores. Left-right ipsilateral CSP and CAPS total intrusiveness subscale scores; right ipsilateral CSP and CAPS avoidance subscale scores were found to be negatively correlated.
Conclusion: In a general sense, MUE and CSP are two TMS findings of neural excitability. The studies in this area suggest GABA dysfunction may be the underlying cause of these two findings. GABA dysfunction should be considered for the meaningful steps to elucidate the etiology and treatment of PTSD.