Article

There is an urgent need to define the neurobiological and cognitive
underpinnings of suicidal ideation and behavior in veterans with traumatic brain
injury (TBI). Separate studies implicate frontal white matter systems in the
pathophysiology of TBI, suicidality, and impulsivity. We examined the
relationship between the integrity of major frontal white matter (WM) systems on
measures of impulsivity and suicidality in veterans with TBI. METHODS: Fifteen
male veterans with TBI and 17 matched healthy controls (HC) received clinical
ratings, measures of impulsivity and MRI scans on a 3T magnet. Diffusion tensor
imaging (DTI) data for the genu and cingulum were analyzed using Freesurfer and
FSL. Correlations were performed for fractional anisotropy (FA) (DTI) values and
measures of suicidality and impulsivity for veterans with TBI. RESULTS:
Significantly decreased in FA values in the left cingulum (P = 0.02), and left (P
= 0.02) and total genu (P = 0.01) were observed in the TBI group relative to
controls. Measures of impulsivity were significantly greater for the TBI group
and total and right cingulum FA positively correlated with current suicidal
ideation and measures of impulsivity (P <0.03). CONCLUSION: These data
demonstrate a significant reduction in FA in frontal WM tracts in veterans with
mild TBI that was associated with both impulsivity and suicidality. These
findings may reflect a neurobiological vulnerability to suicidal risk related to
white matter microstructure.

Langue : ANGLAIS