Peril or Pleasure Reward and salience neurocircuitry and the effects of intranasal oxytocin in posttraumatic stress disorder

In the first part of this PhD thesis, we aim to provide an overview of the nature of reward deficits in PTSD.
In the second part of this thesis, we focus on effects of oxytocin administration on reward processing and functional connectivity networks in PTSD. The neuroimaging studies described in chapter 3, 4 and 5 were all part of the BOOSTER study. Our aim is to explore if intranasal oxytocin can positively affect neurobiological (correlates of) predictors of treatment response. This will inform us if intranasal oxytocin has potential to positively influence treatment response in PTSD.
In part III, an (epi)genetic approach is adopted towards PTSD and the oxytocin system. Here, our aim is to explore (epi)genetic differences between male and female PTSD patients and trauma- exposed controls. This may help to further elucidate potential mechanisms and (epi)genetic factors involved in the genetic susceptibility to PTSD.