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The Biological Findings in Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Review 1
Author(s) -
Ellen Patricia Ver,
Kammen Daniel P.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.1990.tb01512.x
Subject(s) - psychology , amygdala , locus coeruleus , denial , traumatic stress , clinical psychology , endocrine system , pathophysiology , psychiatry , neuroscience , psychotherapist , medicine , central nervous system , hormone
In this paper the authors review the literature on biological and treatment studies of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and present current unifying hypotheses regarding the pathophysiology. The psychophysiological studies stress overarousal, while endocrine studies suggest a decreased Cortisol production in denial and low symptom states with increases in highly symptomatic states. Suggestive evidence is provided that PTSD is associated with permanent changes in brain mechanisms involving the locus coeruleus, amygdala, and the hypothalamo‐pituitary‐adrenal axis. Drug treatments are promising but not fully satisfactory as yet. Directions for further research are provided.