Leigh L. van den Heuvel
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View article: Preliminary Insights Into the Relationship Between the Gut Microbiome and Host Genome in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Preliminary Insights Into the Relationship Between the Gut Microbiome and Host Genome in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Open
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may develop following trauma exposure; however, not all trauma‐exposed individuals develop PTSD, suggesting the presence of susceptibility and resilience factors. The gut microbiome and host genome, whi…
View article: Investigating the Blood Microbiome in Parkinson's Disease, Schizophrenia, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Investigating the Blood Microbiome in Parkinson's Disease, Schizophrenia, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Open
Introduction Recent studies have challenged the idea of sterile blood, suggesting the presence of a blood microbiome. The detection of microbial nucleic acids in blood is thought to reflect the status of distant microbial niches, including…
View article: Epigenome-wide association study of posttraumatic stress disorder in a South African population
Epigenome-wide association study of posttraumatic stress disorder in a South African population Open
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disabling psychiatric disorder with both genetic and environmental contributions. Epigenetic mechanisms have been found to, at least partially, mediate the effect of environmental factors in PTSD a…
View article: Association between the relative abundance of butyrate-producing and mucin-degrading taxa and Parkinson’s disease
Association between the relative abundance of butyrate-producing and mucin-degrading taxa and Parkinson’s disease Open
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterised by motor and non-motor symptoms. Recent evidence suggests a role for gut microbiome composition and diversity in PD aetiology. This study aimed to explore the associati…
View article: Increased Brain Age Among Psychiatrically Healthy Adults Exposed to Childhood Trauma
Increased Brain Age Among Psychiatrically Healthy Adults Exposed to Childhood Trauma Open
Background Adults with childhood trauma exposure may exhibit brain changes typically associated with aging and neurodegeneration (e.g., reduced tissue volume or integrity) to a greater degree than their unexposed counterparts, suggesting a…
View article: Neurocognitive difficulties in trauma-exposed adults with metabolic syndrome: no influence of PTSD status or PTSD and metabolic syndrome comorbidity
Neurocognitive difficulties in trauma-exposed adults with metabolic syndrome: no influence of PTSD status or PTSD and metabolic syndrome comorbidity Open
Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often co-occur and both may compromise cognition, owing in part to common underlying mechanisms. Few studies have investigated the additive effects of these diso…
View article: Cardiovascular risk and allostatic load in PTSD: The role of cumulative trauma and resilience in affected and trauma-exposed adults
Cardiovascular risk and allostatic load in PTSD: The role of cumulative trauma and resilience in affected and trauma-exposed adults Open
Resilience may have differential detrimental and protective effects on AL in individuals with PTSD and TEC. Cumulative trauma exposure may, independently, increase the likelihood of high AL and CVD risk in PTSD, with resilience moderating …
View article: The concordance between the Montreal cognitive assessment and the repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status as a cognitive screening tool in a south African community sample
The concordance between the Montreal cognitive assessment and the repeatable battery for the assessment of neuropsychological status as a cognitive screening tool in a south African community sample Open
We aimed to compare the concordance between the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), as cognitive screening tools to detect mild cognitive impairment (MCI)…
View article: Associations between the Relative Abundance of Butyrate-Producing and Mucin-Degrading Taxa and Parkinson's Disease
Associations between the Relative Abundance of Butyrate-Producing and Mucin-Degrading Taxa and Parkinson's Disease Open
View article: Epigenome-wide association studies identify novel DNA methylation sites associated with PTSD: a meta-analysis of 23 military and civilian cohorts
Epigenome-wide association studies identify novel DNA methylation sites associated with PTSD: a meta-analysis of 23 military and civilian cohorts Open
View article: The saNeuroGut Initiative: Investigating the Gut Microbiome and Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Posttraumatic Stress
The saNeuroGut Initiative: Investigating the Gut Microbiome and Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression, and Posttraumatic Stress Open
Introduction: Common mental disorders, such as anxiety disorders, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), present a substantial health and economic burden. The gut microbiome has been associated with these psychiatric disorde…
View article: Epigenome-wide association studies identify novel DNA methylation sites associated with PTSD: A meta-analysis of 23 military and civilian cohorts
Epigenome-wide association studies identify novel DNA methylation sites associated with PTSD: A meta-analysis of 23 military and civilian cohorts Open
Background The occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a traumatic event is associated with biological differences that can represent the susceptibility to PTSD, the impact of trauma, or the sequelae of PTSD itself. T…
View article: Metabolic syndrome associations with neurocognitive function in first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Metabolic syndrome associations with neurocognitive function in first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders Open
We examined the associations between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and neurocognitive function in patients with first-episode schizophrenia spectrum disorders (FES) compared to controls assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment …
View article: Fronto‐limbic white matter microstructural changes in psychiatrically healthy adults with childhood trauma
Fronto‐limbic white matter microstructural changes in psychiatrically healthy adults with childhood trauma Open
Childhood trauma (CT) may influence brain white matter microstructure; however, few studies have examined the differential impact of distinct CT types on white matter microstructure in psychiatrically healthy adults living in a developing …
View article: Smaller total and subregional cerebellar volumes in posttraumatic stress disorder: a mega-analysis by the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD workgroup
Smaller total and subregional cerebellar volumes in posttraumatic stress disorder: a mega-analysis by the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD workgroup Open
View article: Associations between the Relative Abundance of Butyrate-Producing and Mucin-Degrading Taxa and Parkinson's Disease
Associations between the Relative Abundance of Butyrate-Producing and Mucin-Degrading Taxa and Parkinson's Disease Open
View article: Post-traumatic stress disorder as a risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events: a cohort study of a South African medical insurance scheme
Post-traumatic stress disorder as a risk factor for major adverse cardiovascular events: a cohort study of a South African medical insurance scheme Open
Aims Prior research, largely focused on US male veterans, indicates an increased risk of cardiovascular disease among individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Data from other settings and populations are scarce. The objectiv…
View article: Childhood maltreatment and internalizing/externalizing disorders in trauma-exposed adolescents: Does posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity have a mediating role?
Childhood maltreatment and internalizing/externalizing disorders in trauma-exposed adolescents: Does posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity have a mediating role? Open
Childhood maltreatment is associated with wide-ranging psychopathology at all stages of life. In the current study, we investigated whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity mediated the association between childhood maltreatme…
View article: Examining the association between posttraumatic stress disorder and disruptions in cortical networks identified using data-driven methods
Examining the association between posttraumatic stress disorder and disruptions in cortical networks identified using data-driven methods Open
View article: Neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations in hospitalised patients with COVID-19
Neurological and neuropsychiatric manifestations in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 Open
This study highlights the common NNM in patients with COVID-19 admitted to Tygerberg Hospital early in the pandemic and adds to the growing evidence of COVID-19 NNM.
View article: Identifying genetic loci that are associated with changes in gene expression in <scp>PTSD</scp> in a South African cohort
Identifying genetic loci that are associated with changes in gene expression in <span>PTSD</span> in a South African cohort Open
The molecular mechanisms underlying posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are yet to be fully elucidated, especially in underrepresented population groups. Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) are DNA sequence variants that influence …
View article: Platelets bridging the gap between gut dysbiosis and neuroinflammation in stress-linked disorders: A narrative review
Platelets bridging the gap between gut dysbiosis and neuroinflammation in stress-linked disorders: A narrative review Open
In this narrative review, we examine the association between gut dysbiosis, neuroinflammation, and stress-linked disorders, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and investigate whether tryptophan (TRP) …
View article: A network analysis investigating the associations between posttraumatic stress symptoms, markers of inflammation and metabolic syndrome
A network analysis investigating the associations between posttraumatic stress symptoms, markers of inflammation and metabolic syndrome Open
Chronic systemic inflammation has been implicated in trauma exposure, independent of a psychiatric diagnosis, and in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and its highly comorbid conditions, such as metabolic syndrome (MetS). The present st…
View article: Smaller total and subregional cerebellar volumes in posttraumatic stress disorder: a mega-analysis by the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD workgroup
Smaller total and subregional cerebellar volumes in posttraumatic stress disorder: a mega-analysis by the ENIGMA-PGC PTSD workgroup Open
Background The cerebellum critically contributes to higher-order cognitive and emotional functions such fear learning and memory. Prior research on cerebellar volume in PTSD is scant and has neglected neuroanatomical subdivisions of the ce…
View article: Childhood trauma exposure and reward processing in healthy adults: A functional neuroimaging study
Childhood trauma exposure and reward processing in healthy adults: A functional neuroimaging study Open
The association between childhood trauma exposure and risk of developing psychopathology may in part be mediated by the effects of chronic stress on dopaminergic neurotransmission. However, little is known about the differential effects of…
View article: The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on mental health care use in South Africa: an interrupted time series analysis
The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on mental health care use in South Africa: an interrupted time series analysis Open
Aims In March 2020, South Africa introduced a lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, entailing the suspension of all non-essential activities and a complete ban of tobacco and alcohol sales. We studied the effect of the lockdown on…
View article: RNA-seq analysis of gene expression profiles in posttraumatic stress disorder, Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia identifies roles for common and distinct biological pathways
RNA-seq analysis of gene expression profiles in posttraumatic stress disorder, Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia identifies roles for common and distinct biological pathways Open
Evidence suggests that shared pathophysiological mechanisms in neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs) may contribute to risk and resilience. We used single-gene and network-level transcriptomic approaches to investigate shared and disorder-spec…
View article: The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on mental health care use in South Africa: an interrupted time-series analysis
The effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on mental health care use in South Africa: an interrupted time-series analysis Open
Aims The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and ensuing restrictions have negatively affected the mental health and well-being of the general population, and there is increasing evidence suggesting that lockdowns have led to a di…
View article: COPESCD — An Online Community Supporting Families After Sudden Cardiac Death in the Young: A Protocol for a Pilot Study
COPESCD — An Online Community Supporting Families After Sudden Cardiac Death in the Young: A Protocol for a Pilot Study Open
View article: Cut it out or wait it out? Case series of middle fossa arachnoid cysts presenting with psychiatric symptoms and a discussion of the ethics of neurosurgical management
Cut it out or wait it out? Case series of middle fossa arachnoid cysts presenting with psychiatric symptoms and a discussion of the ethics of neurosurgical management Open
Arachnoid cysts have been linked to neuropsychiatric morbidity. We describe two patients presenting with dissociative and manic symptoms believed to be associated with middle fossa arachnoid cysts. They were managed medically and remitted …