Neural Circuits in Women With Abuse and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Inclusion Criteria: * Subjects meet criteria for current PTSD as determined by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSMIV (SCID) interview for PTSD and the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) and have a score of greater than 60 on the CAPS * history of penetrative sexual abuse which occurred once a month or more, for a period of greater than a year at some time between the ages of 4-13, as assessed by the Early Trauma Inventory (ETI) * are free of psychotropic medication for four weeks before the study (subjects will not be taken off of medication for the purpose of the study). * Non-PTSD subjects will be included based on the same criteria with the exception that they do not meet criteria for PTSD. Exclusion Criteria: * a history of shrapnel or other foreign bodies which would preclude MRI scanning * meningitis * traumatic brain injury * neurological disorder or organic mental disorder * history of loss of consciousness * alcohol abuse or substance abuse or dependence based on the SCID within the past 24 months * positive pregnancy test as measured by a serum beta-HCG or urine pregnancy test on the morning of the PET scan. Women will be counseled about the risks of pregnancy during the course of the study * current or lifetime history of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bulimia, based on the SCID * a history of serious medical or neurological illness, such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, neurologic or other systemic illness * evidence of a major medical or neurological illness on physical examination or as a result of laboratory studies (CBC, BUN, creatinine, blood sugar, electrolytes, liver and thyroid function tests, urinalysis, and EKG) * positive urine toxicology screen * history of ongoing violence such as domestic abuse as measured by the ETI-lifetime * post-menopausal status as measured by menstrual history. * Non-PTSD subjects will additionally be excluded with current major depression or other major psychiatric disorder based on the SCID.