Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition triggered by trauma. Sometimes it’s triggered by a single life-threatening event, such as a natural disaster or a violent incident. Other times it’s the result of long-term stressors, such as emotional abuse or neglect. The symptoms of PTSD include flashbacks and intrusive memories, avoidance of people and places associated with the event, and negative changes in mood, thought, and physical/emotional reactions.
Not everyone who suffers from trauma develops PTSD. We have yet to understand exactly why, but there are certain risk factors associated with the development of PTSD as well as resilience factors that reduce the risk. For example, a family history of mental health problems can increase the risk of developing PTSD, and a strong support network can reduce the risk.
How long does PTSD last?
Anyone who lives through a traumatic event can experience symptoms of PTSD. For most people, however, they go away within a few weeks. To be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, the symptoms must last for more than a month and negatively impact daily functioning. For those who do develop PTSD, when left untreated, the symptoms can intensify and worsen over time. The main reason for this is that PTSD changes the brain structure and functionality. And the only way for PTSD to go away completely is to rewire the brain.
PTSD and the brain
Research has shown that trauma can have a significant impact on the structure and functioning of the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the prefrontal cortex, all of which play a role in triggering the symptoms of PTSD.
Amygdala – Also called the reptilian brain, the amygdala (brain stem) is responsible for threat-identification. It monitors situations for danger and decides when to react. When we have a strong fear response associated with an event, that event gets stored in our amygdala for the long-term. Traumatic events can result in an enlarged and overstimulated amygdala, causing the individual to see threats everywhere.
Hippocampus – The mid-brain processes emotions and stores and retrieves memories. It is part of the limbic system, and it regulates memory, motivation, and how we experience fear and anger. The hippocampus regulates our ability to overcome the fear response when danger is not present by consolidating the memory into the past tense. When high levels of stress hormones are present, it can set off a series of chemical reactions that damage the hippocampus and interfere with the ability to distinguish between past and present memories.
Prefrontal cortex – The prefrontal cortex is responsible for much of our high level functioning, which includes our ability to predict consequences, anticipate events in the environment, determine meaning and significance, and regulate emotional responses triggered by the amygdala. In cases of PTSD, the overactive amygdala usually goes hand-in-hand with a decreased volume and functional ability of the prefrontal cortex. This makes it difficult for the individual to manage stress responses to stimuli.
The good news is that the human brain can be re-wired. With proper treatment, many people are able to manage or even eliminate the symptoms of PTSD. Certain drugs and behavioral therapies have been shown to increase the volume of the hippocampus, for example. As with most mental health disorders, available treatments help some people but not others. Researchers continue to work toward more effective treatment methods that will enable all people with PTSD to find relief, heal, and maximize their quality of life.
Synergy is currently enrolling participants for paid PTSD research studies
If you or someone you know suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, you may be eligible to participate in a paid PTSD research study at Synergy Research Centers in San Diego. Participants can gain access to cutting edge treatments and receive compensation for time and travel expenses. For more information on our PTSD clinical research trials, give us a call at 888-539-0282 or fill out our enrollment form today.