Characterization of Olfactory Perception in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Summary

The core symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) include flash backs, intrusive pictures and thoughts related to the traumatic event, hyperalertness, avoidance of traumatic relevant environmental triggers and emotional dysregulation. Some studies suggest that PTSD is also associated with impaired olfactory perception, which seems quite intuitive regarding the close anatomical-functional connections between olfactory and emotional circuits. Furthermore, some studies reported that olfactory stimuli can trigger flashbacks in subjects with PTSD. However, up to know available data is scarce and heterogeneous concerning that topic. The goal of the study is to determine the olfactory phenotype of subjects with PTSD. More precisely, this project aims at filling the above mentioned gap by systematically assessing the olfactory perception of subjects with PTSD along five dimensions: olfactory identity, hedonic value, familiarity, desirability and edibility. As a secondary goal, the relative weight of olfaction compared to the other senses in the relived memories of subjects with PTSD will be assessed.

The investigators here hypothesize a global impairment in olfactory processing (intensity, hedonicity, familiarity and edibility judgments) in PTSD subjects, compared with healthy subjects.

Conditions

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

European Test of Olfactory Capabilities (ETOC)

Investigators will collect the ETOC score in patient of both arms

BEHAVIORAL

Standardized Hedonicity Test

To smell 20 odorant solutions and for each odor and evaluate it along five dimensions: familiarity, hedonicity, edibility, desire to smell again, perceived intensity). Each dimension is assessed with a Likert scale (from 1 (not at all) to 9 (extremely))

BEHAVIORAL

Questionnaires

Patients with PTSD will have the following questionnaires : PTSD Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-V (PCL-5), Peri-trauma Dissociation Experience Questionnaire (PDEQ), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ9), Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES)

BEHAVIORAL

Odor / trauma association questionnaire

Patients with PTSD will have Odor / trauma association questionnaire

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Hospices Civils de Lyon

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• VIGNAUD Philippe, MD, PhD · Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Center for Psychotrauma

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-08-26

Primary Completion

2026-08-25

Completion

2026-08-25

Countries

• France

Study Locations