The altered topology of brain structural network in patients with acute stress response after traffic accident

To explore the changes of brain activities in traffic accident survivors with acute stress response (ASR) within a week by using complex networks analysis method based on graph-theory, and to find out the alteration of topological properties in structural brain network. From January, 2013 to February, 2016, twenty traffic accidents survivors with acute stress disorders (Acute Stress Disorder Interview, ASDI>3)and twenty healthy controls underwent the 3T diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) magnetic resonance imaging scan in Nanjing General Hospital.The graph-theory analysis method was used to compare the structural brain network properties and nodal features between ASR survivors and controls.Statistical analyses were also performed by including anxiety and depression as covariates to evaluate their effect.In additional, Pearson correlation was performed between abnormal parametric values and clinical indices. (1) The brain structural networks had small-world properties in both groups; (2) while compared with healt