Publications by authors named "S Harte"
Background: Chronic pain following traumatic stress exposure (TSE) is common. Increasing evidence suggests inflammatory/immune mechanisms are induced by TSE, play a key role in the recovery process versus development of post-TSE chronic pain, and are sex specific. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with chronic pain after TSE in a sex-specific manner.
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- Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic condition that leads to chronic pain and episodes called vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs), and this study investigates how certain brain chemicals are altered in patients with SCD.
- Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, researchers measured levels of glutamate and glutamine (Glx) in the right posterior insula cortex of individuals with SCD and healthy controls, finding significantly higher Glx levels in SCD patients, along with notable correlations between Glx levels, VOC frequency, and pain sensitivity.
- These findings suggest that an imbalance in excitatory neurotransmitters like glutamate in the insula may play a role in the pain experienced by SCD patients, highlighting the need for further
Social Buffering of PTSD: Longitudinal Effects and Neural Mediators.
Justin L C Santos Nathaniel G Harnett Sanne J H van Rooij Timothy D Ely Tanja Jovanovic Steven E Harte
Biol Psychiatry Cogn Neurosci Neuroimaging
November 2024
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates how early social support after trauma affects PTSD symptoms over time and explores specific brain regions involved in this process, such as the amygdala and ventromedial prefrontal cortex.
- Using data from 315 participants in the AURORA study, researchers measured PTSD symptoms and perceived emotional support at multiple time points, while also conducting neuroimaging two weeks post-trauma.
- The results show that early emotional support is linked to changes in white matter connectivity between key brain areas, but it also highlighted unexpected increased threat reactivity in the default mode network, suggesting complex neural pathways in response to social threats.
Article Synopsis
- - The study explored the use of wrist-wearable devices to track heart rate variability (HRV) as potential biomarkers for recovery from adverse neuropsychiatric effects following traumatic events, specifically in a socioeconomically disadvantaged group.
- - Researchers monitored participants within 72 hours of a traumatic event and over a course of 6 months, validating HRV characteristics linked to various posttraumatic symptoms, such as pain, re-experiencing, and anxiety.
- - The findings indicate that changes in HRV could effectively predict improvements or worsening in symptoms, suggesting that these wearable technologies could serve as useful screening tools for identifying posttraumatic stress in high-risk populations.