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Trauma affects brains of boys, girls differently

Recent findings indicated sex-specific differences in insula volume among youth with PTSD, suggesting that trauma may present differently between boys and girls.

“The insula appears to play a key role in the development of PTSD,” study researcher Victor Carrion, MD, of Stanford University, said in a press release. “The difference we saw between the brains of boys and girls who have experienced psychological trauma is important because it may help explain differences in trauma symptoms between sexes.”

To assess potential differences in insula subdivision structure in youth with PTSD, researchers used structural MRI to measure insula structure among 30 children with PTSD and 29 children without PTSD. Study participants were aged 9 to 17 years.

Analysis indicated differences specific to the anterior circular sulcus of the insula.

Boys with PTSD exhibited larger volume and surface area in the anterior circular sulcus of the insula, compared with control boys.

Volume and surface area in the anterior circular sulcus of the insula was smaller among girls with PTSD, compared with control girls.

“It is important that people who work with traumatized youth consider the sex differences,” Megan Klabunde, PhD, of Stanford University, said in the release. “Our findings suggest it is possible that boys and girls could exhibit different trauma symptoms and that they might benefit from different approaches to treatment.” – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: Please see the study for a full list of relevant financial disclosures.