PTSD and Stress Responses

Vocabulary related to PTSD, stress responses, brain function, and therapeutic approaches.

What are the defining characteristics of PTSD?

Intrusion/re-experiencing, avoidance and numbing, negative mood and impaired cognition, hyperarousal.

What triggers PTSD?

Stressful events, genetic variability, environmental risks, incident trauma.

What brain regions are implicated in PTSD?

The vmPFC, amygdala, and hypothalamus are key regions in the threat response circuit.

Describe the threat circuit in PTSD.

In PTSD, the vmPFC is inhibited, leading to overactivation of the amygdala, which triggers the stress response.

What is trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)?

A therapeutic approach involving repeated imaginal exposure to trauma memories, in vivo exposure to avoided situations, and emotional processing.

What are biomarkers?

Measurable indicators of biological processes, disease states, or responses, used for diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

What are the biomarkers for PTSD?

Neurotransmitters (like norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin), cortisol levels, and brain imaging findings such as reduced hippocampal volume.

What is fear conditioning?

A form of classical conditioning where a neutral stimulus is associated with an aversive event, leading to a fear response.

What is extinction learning?

The process by which the fear response is reduced through new learning that the conditioned stimulus is no longer associated with the unconditioned stimulus.

What are extinction neurons?

Neurons created during extinction training that inhibit the amygdala to suppress fear responses.

Which brain region mediates extinction and fear suppression?

The infralimbic cortex (IL) of the prefrontal cortex (PFC).

What is a galvanic skin response?

A measure of skin's electrical conductivity in response to stimuli, indicating fear and stress levels.

What differences in brain activity are observed in classic vs. dissociative PTSD?

Classic PTSD shows increased amygdala activation, while dissociative PTSD shows decreased amygdala activation and increased vmPFC activation.

How does the dexamethasone suppression test relate to PTSD?

It measures the HPA axis response to cortisol; patients with PTSD show hypersensitivity to cortisol suppression.

What medications are commonly prescribed for PTSD?

Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs), antipsychotics, and sedative-hypnotics.

What is allostatic load?

The cumulative burden of stress adaptations when the body's systems fail to shut off after stressors.

What is anhedonia?

An inability to experience pleasure from activities typically found enjoyable, a core symptom of PTSD.

How do active and passive coping strategies differ?

Active coping strategies involve intentional efforts to reduce stress, while passive strategies involve avoidance and lead to increased vulnerability.

What is the Yerkes-Dodson law?

It states that performance improves with increased stress to a point, beyond which excessive stress impairs performance.

What is learned helplessness?

A condition where an individual believes their actions have no effect, leading to a decrease in motivation and learning.

What role does cortisol play in the stress response?

Cortisol helps ensure adequate glucose supply and mobilizes energy during stress.

What is neurogenesis, and how does it relate to resilience?

Neurogenesis is the formation of new neurons; inhibited neurogenesis in stressed animals may lead to emotional regulation dysregulation.

What are miRNAs?

Small, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression and stress responses.