Smaller Hippocampal Volume Is Associated With Reduced Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms in Children With Cancer and Survivors Following a Brief Novel Martial Arts-Based Intervention

Abstract

Purpose: Children with cancer and survivors frequently report posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), which are associated with volumetric changes in stress-sensitive brain regions, including the hippocampus.

Methods: We examined the impact of a novel, 4-week martial-arts-based meditative intervention on cancer-related PTSS in 18 pediatric patients and survivors and whether baseline hippocampal volumes correlate with PTSS severity and/or PTSS changes over time.

Results: Overall, PTSS did not significantly change from baseline to post-intervention. Smaller hippocampal volume was correlated with more severe re-experiencing PTSS at baseline, and greater reductions in PTSS post-intervention.

Conclusions: Together, hippocampal volume may be a biomarker of PTSS severity and intervention response. Identifying hippocampal volume as a potential biomarker for PTSS severity and intervention response may allow for more informed psychosocial treatments.

Keywords: Adolescents; Children; Mindfulness; Neuroimaging; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Psycho-oncology.