The Biology of PTSD

Approximately 15% of veterans of recent wars, that is those who served in the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom, suffer or have suffered from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This observation has brought a lot of attention to the realness of this disorder. It would be easy to take this information and assume that PTSD is uniquely a combat veteran’s issue. The truth is though, an estimated 8% of Americans will suffer from PTSD at some point in their lifetime.

It was in the 1970s when the diagnosis PTSD first gained acceptance. It was the observation that a great many veterans returning from Vietnam were suffering from a condition connected to their combat experiences that demanded that a diagnosis be recognized. It was in 1980 that the condition was included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders. There’s been a huge amount of observational research on the effects of psychological trauma since that time. That research has certainly shed considerable light on the common behavioral symptoms and prevalence of the disorder, but the specifics of what external factors and personal characteristics result in the disorder, and how it manifests in different individuals remain elusive. The current diagnostic criteria are summarized as follows: 1) Exposure to a life-threatening event, serious injury or sexual violence. 2) Recurring memories or flashbacks. 3) Avoidance of trauma reminders. 4) Changes in mood or cognition. 5) Attention problems, easily startled or violent outbursts.

Most people don’t develop PTSD following a life-threatening or otherwise violent traumatic event. For the general population, the statistical probability of developing PTSD following trauma exposure is consistent with those figures above related to combat exposure, somewhere between 10-20%. That is a wide range, and its uncertainty reflects our limited understanding of the condition, but it clearly illustrates that PTSD is not the normative response.

So who are those, let’s just say 15%, and what makes them susceptible? How much, if any, does one’s genetic makeup influence their susceptibility? What roles do environment and experience play? Of course, these are standard questions we want to answer in order to understand any non-normative behavior, be it a disorder or anextraordinary capability such as elite athleticism or intellectual or artistic genius. In any case, the answers lie in the physiological mechanisms that drive all the behaviors that define our individuality.

A reasonable starting point to understand those mechanisms is to try to identify the machinery involved, and compare the structures and operations of those machines between typical and atypical individuals. In biological terms, those structures are the anatomy of the machinery, and the operations are the physiology. Our understanding of PTSD in these terms is still very limited. Indeed this is the case for much of our understanding of how our minds work. We have made some headway towards understanding the anatomical pieces that make up our minds, but an understanding of what those pieces do and how they work together is still largely absent.

The identification of the brain as the engine of the mind is a relatively recent discovery. The earliest cited evidence that the brain is responsible for the way we think and behave comes from the case of Phineous Gage. In 1848 Gage survived a railroad construction accident where an iron rod pierced his head resulting in the destruction of the entirety of the left frontal lobe of his brain. He exhibited significant changes in personality following his recovery from this accident. It was this observation that established that a critical function of the brain is to manage the way we think and feel.

We now take it as common sense that physical trauma to the brain can have negative impacts to cognition, and we’ve come to accept that psychological trauma can also negatively impact cognition.

So it might follow that psychological trauma can also be associated with changes in the brain. And indeed researchers, using modern tools of science and medicine, have revealed that there are many chemical and structural differences in the brains of those suffering from PTSD.

It would be easy to jump to the conclusion that the brain is the sole anatomical piece whose workings we need to understand in order to elucidate the mechanisms of PTSD. However, while the brain (the nervous system) is unambiguously the engine of the mind, it is also necessarily working in conjunction with effectively all the other systems in the body, e.g., the cardiovascular, immune and endocrine (hormone producing) systems. The communication between the brain and all the other systems that comprise us is bidirectional; That is, the brain may regulate certain changes in the body but it is also a certainty that changes in the body can result in changes in the brain.

In the case of PTSD, the interdependence between the brain and the other body systems is strongly hinted at by the high rates of comorbidity (the concurrence of other disorders), including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and immune disorders. For example, Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans with PTSD show an increased risk for autoimmune disorders. More relatably, the simple fact that we universally recognize that certain psychological stimuli cause a “visceral” response underscores the full-body nature of the mind.

With these observations it doesn’t require a great leap of imagination to recognize that the mind and body are inextricably linked, but a scientific understanding of what these linkages are, and how they work, is still in front of us. How far out in front of us will depend on how we as a community prioritize mental health, and the resources we are willing to allocate to advance the science and medicine of the mind.

‘A strong community is built of healthy individuals and
good health starts with a healthy mind’

–

50

Leave a Reply

newest oldest

Susan Redmon

Let’s begin the journey down the path of understanding heath and illness.
Well done, thanks so much! 🧡

Peggy

Great background, thanks DA

KhedTriz

generic viagra mastercard indian viagra reviews buy prescription only viagra

Fwsxontok

erection pills canada drugs online drugstore near me

Lokuontok

ed canadian pharmacies online online pharmacy canada

NllpEcono

online pharmacy reviews online pharmacy without scripts erectile dysfunction medications

Jtmfontok

pharmacy rx texas state board of pharmacy pharmacies

FgvdEcono

best drugstore eyeliner cheap rx п»їviagra online canadian pharmacy

KhthTriz

best drugstore eyeliner best drug store primer corner drug store

JlloOvelp

peoples pharmacy nearest drug store online pharmacy without scripts

AnthonySom

http://t.me/s/alcohol_yakutsk

바카라사이트

This is really interesting, You are a very skilled blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post. Also, I ave shared your website in my social networks! really good.
https://www.vfv79.com/baca/

바카라

Thanks so much for the post.Really looking forward to read more. Great.thanks for sharing.
Just wanna input that you have a very nice website , I the layout it really stands out.have a good day.
https://liveone9.com/

카지노사이트추천

Thanks so much for the post.Much thanks again. Fantastic.visit my webpage.
https://txt2080.com/

Lbsxontok

online rx pharmacy viagra online\\ cialis pharmacy online

KbcxTriz

bestsellers best non prescription online pharmacies order medicine online

JbnbOvelp

canada prescription drugs ed meds online canada drug pharmacy

FvfcEcono

how to take viagra order viagra without prescription viagra. no prescription

Fqhhontok

buying drugs canada canadian drugs pharmacies online buy generic viagra online

Jbbvontok

canadian pharmacies without prescriptions canadian pharmacy no prescription needed compare rx prices

cialis och ipren

brand cialis sale cialis for impotence

NncsEcono

pfizer viagra 100mg price i want to order some viagra cheapest fastest viagra

cialis diario resolve

cialis packaging cialis eturauhanen

Ahkdontok

discount pharmacy brand viagra buying prescription drugs canada

cialis mehrmals

generic cialis liquid cialis vs pill

Labxontok

cialis e glicemia cialis tadalafil nedir cialis how often take

KvaxTriz

amscot cash advance fee i need a cash advance in one hour cash advance shoreline

JbnvOvelp

payday loan in durham nc cash advance millennium bcp is 1 hour cash loans legit

FbsgEcono

cialis on line cialis 20mg П„О№ОјО· cialis

Fqbbontok

payday loans over the weekend americash loans broadway chicago quick easy cash loans nz

cialis zonder recept

cialis free offer cialis posologie

Jbbnontok

cialis rezeptfrei aus holland will cialis show up a drug test cialis berkut

Ahbzontok

cash loan taken cash advance loans no credit check money loan mart

KndnTriz

itsoktocry viagra all natural viagra what happens if you take viagra and you don’t need it

ClarkBoymn

yshsx mnrcx 1ngy

FjjuEcono

libido max vs viagra viagra commercial viagra like pills

Speedycash

{loans|loan|loans|payday loans|personal loans|payday loan|loans online|payday lending|loans for bad credit|personal loan|cash advance|loans no credit|loans no credit check|credit loans|payday loans online|bad credit loans|installment loans|payday loans no credit|payday loans no credit check|online loans|online payday|loan application|loans guaranteed approval|money fast|loan payday|cash loans|web loan|bad credit loans guaranteed approval|online payday loans|payday advance|personal loans for bad credit|loan online|loans instant approval|credit loans guaranteed approval|advance cash|simple loan|loans with bad credit|quick loans|pay day|loans bad credit|loan interest rates|cash payday|loans with no credit|personal loans online|payday loans near me|loans for poor credit|no credit check loans|loans personal|advance loans|loans with no credit check|loan with bad credit|short term loans|loans direct|payday loans instant|direct loans|pay day loans|payday loans instant… Read more »

AmyMup

20 mg paxil

LisaMup

buy stromectol online

Speedycash

KiaMup

stromectol generic

Online Payday Loans

AmyMup

tadalafil drug

Pay Day Loans

KiaMup