Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common and severe psychiatric disorder precipitated by exposure to a psychologically distressing event. PTSD is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. PTSD is characterized by the presence of three distinct, but co-occurring, symptom clusters. Reexperiencing symptoms describe spontaneous, often insuppressible intrusions of the traumatic memory in the form of images or nightmares that are accompanied by intense physiological distress. Avoidance symptoms involve restricting thoughts and distancing oneself from reminders of the event, as well as more generalized emotional and social withdrawal. Hyperarousal symptoms reflect more overt physiological manifestations, such as insomnia, irritability, impaired concentration. The estimated lifetime prevalence of PTSD among adult Americans is about 8%, with women (10%) twice as likely as men (5%) to have PTSD at some point in their lives. Research evidence suggests that PTSD has a neurobiological basis. Stressful events in early life affect the neural circuit associated with fear related processes, and consequently may alter the lifelong sensitivity to emotional stress. Current research on the neurobiology of PTSD include the utilization of functional brain imaging; molecular genetic research; the incorporation of cross-system research including neuroendocrine, neurochemical, and neuroimmunological systems. The future of PTSD neurobiological research will center upon efforts to integrate the disparate findings within and among numerous biological systems. The results of the most recent research studies will be presented in this book. “Neurobiology of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder” is mostly for M.D. or Ph.D. level professionals but may be of significant interest to mental health counselors, medical and psychology students, and lay people.Publisher: Nova Science Publishers Editors: Leo Sher and Alexander Vilens Chapter abstracts:
Thomas R. Minor, Traci N. Plumb, Christopher J. Schell, Anh K. Pham University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA Neurobiology of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2010, 376 pages. This chapter reviews human and animal literature on the psychological and biological consequences of maintaining and intense, prolonged fear response. This type […]
Leo Sher Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA Neurobiology of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2010, 376 pages. The psychological consequences of trauma exposure are well recognized throughout history. The study of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) dates back more than 100 years. Before 1980, […]
Lakshmi N. Ravindran(1), Murray B. Stein(2), Arun V. Ravindran(1) 1. University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 2. University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA Neurobiology of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2010, 376 pages. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common psychiatric illness with significant morbidity and impact on […]
Viviane Labrie, John C. Roder Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Neurobiology of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2010, 376 pages. Aberrant glutamatergic transmission has been implicated in the pathophysiology of anxiety disorders. Alterations in NMDA receptor (NMDAR) expression, function, and […]
Lia R. M. Bevilaqua, M. Cammarota, J. H. Medina, I. Izquierdo Pontificia Universidade Catolica de Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil (LRMB, MC, II) and Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina (JHM) Neurobiology of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2010, 376 pages. Extinction is the learned inhibition of the […]
George A. Fraser Consultant psychiatrist, Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Ottawa), Mental Health department. Neurobiology of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2010, 376 pages. The newly discovered endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the ongoing research into its role in the central nervous system (CNS) has important ramifications in the understanding and treatment […]
Vinuta Rau(1), Michael S. Fanselow(2) and Edmond I Eger II(1) 1. University of California, San Francisco, California, USA 2. University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA Neurobiology of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2010, 376 pages. The experience of surgery can produce both physical and psychological stress. Awareness during anesthesia is […]
Leo Sher Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, New York, USA Neurobiology of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Hauppauge, New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2010, 376 pages. This chapter reports on the symposium, “Translational neuroscience may inform treatment development for posttraumatic stress disorder” (Chair – Leo Sher, M.D., Co-Chair – Alexander Neumeister, M.D.) […]
