Psychology Presentation
Psychology presentation
PTSD and biological factors
The signs and symptoms of PTSD, therefore, appear to reflect a persistent, abnormal adaptation of neurobiological systems to the stress of witnessed trauma. The neurobiological systems that regulate stress responses include certain endocrine and neurotransmitter pathways as well as a network of brain regions known to regulate fear behavior at both conscious and unconscious levels. Not surprisingly, much research has consequently focused on exploring these systems in more detail as well as attempting to elucidate the pathological changes that occur in patients who develop PTSD. More specifically, there have been and continue to be ongoing efforts to link neurobiological changes identified in patients who suffer from PTSD to the specific clinical features that constitute PTSD, including altered learning/extinction, heightened arousal, and intermittent dissociative behavior as examples relevant to each of the three primary domains.
Some researchers now believe that when an individual’s sympathetic nervous system remains aroused after trauma, that leads to higher levels of the neurochemicals dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine in his or her brain. Normally those three neurochemicals (together called catecholamines) help memories form by maintaining the body at a high level of arousal. If cortisol fails to adequately shut them down, a person’s traumatic memories become “overconsolidated,” or inappropriately remembered. As a result, “every little thing” has a chance of reminding the person of the traumatic event. The person’s increased distress every time he or she recalls the trauma further activates the stress-responsive systems, resulting in anxiety, hyperarousal, and ultimately, PTSD.
- See more at: http://www.dana.org/Publications/GuideDetails.aspx?id=50040#sthash.zFQOIw8R.dpuf
atFor all of us, being exposed to traumatic stress results in an immediate fear response: the body initiates the natural
PTSD and biological factors
The signs and symptoms of PTSD, therefore, appear to reflect a persistent, abnormal adaptation of neurobiological systems to the stress of witnessed trauma. The neurobiological systems that regulate stress responses include certain endocrine and neurotransmitter pathways as well as a network of brain regions known to regulate fear behavior at both conscious and unconscious levels. Not surprisingly, much research has consequently focused on exploring these systems in more detail as well as attempting to elucidate the pathological changes that occur in patients who develop PTSD. More specifically, there have been and continue to be ongoing efforts to link neurobiological changes identified in patients who suffer from PTSD to the specific clinical features that constitute PTSD, including altered learning/extinction, heightened arousal, and intermittent dissociative behavior as examples relevant to each of the three primary domains.
Some researchers now believe that when an individual’s sympathetic nervous system remains aroused after trauma, that leads to higher levels of the neurochemicals dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine in his or her brain. Normally those three neurochemicals (together called catecholamines) help memories form by maintaining the body at a high level of arousal. If cortisol fails to adequately shut them down, a person’s traumatic memories become “overconsolidated,” or inappropriately remembered. As a result, “every little thing” has a chance of reminding the person of the traumatic event. The person’s increased distress every time he or she recalls the trauma further activates the stress-responsive systems, resulting in anxiety, hyperarousal, and ultimately, PTSD.
- See more at: http://www.dana.org/Publications/GuideDetails.aspx?id=50040#sthash.zFQOIw8R.dpuf
atFor all of us, being exposed to traumatic stress results in an immediate fear response: the body initiates the natural