Work

PTSD symptoms, loneliness, and amygdala volumes during pandemic social distancing associated with risk of suicidal ideation in trauma survivors with and without pre-pandemic PTSD

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Objective: The prolonged social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has been shown to worsen loneliness, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and suicidal thought, though the negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic-related isolation on survivors with previous traumatic experiences remain largely unexplored. The present study investigated how pandemic-related social isolation relates to PTSD symptoms, thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness, loneliness, and amygdala volumes in pre-pandemic trauma survivors with and without PTSD diagnosis. Methods: Sixty-two participants from a previous PTSD study were recruited during the pandemic to complete online surveys, including the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ) for thwarted belongingness (INQ-TB) and perceived burdensomeness (INQ-PB) to assess perceived social isolation and risk of suicidal ideation, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the PTSD Checklist-5 (PCL) for PTSD symptoms, the virtual PTSD diagnostic interview, and a structural MRI (sMRI) scan to measure amygdala and nuclei volumes. Pre-pandemic PTSD diagnosis record was also obtained. Results: Pandemic PCL were positively associated with UCLA loneliness and INQ-PB scores. INQ-TB and UCLA loneliness scores were inversely associated with post-pandemic amygdala volumes, specifically in left basolateral, central and cortical nuclei. Pre-pandemic PTSD diagnosis was associated with higher INQ-PB scores and smaller volumes of right amygdala and its centromedial nuclei post pandemic. Conclusions: These findings suggest severe PTSD symptoms and smaller amygdala were associated with high loneliness and potential risk of suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic in trauma survivors. Pre-pandemic PTSD diagnosis can predict potential risk of suicidal ideation and reduced amygdala and its nuclei volumes when individuals are exposed to further stress.

Source: Journal of Affective Disorders Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.jadr.2026.101030