The psychobiology and psychopharmacology of PTSD
Abstract
This paper reviews the currently available knowledge about the psychobiology and psychopharmacology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It also reviews the various studies that have elucidated changes in brain function and structure in PTSD populations, including position emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and event-related potential (ERP) studies. It then reviews the literature on catecholamine and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis abnormalities in PTSD, and finally reviews the literature available on the psychopharmacology of PTSD. It discusses how the pathophysiology of PTSD determines the nature of psychopharmacological interventions. Psychopharmacological interventions in PTSD are largely limited to good studies on the effects of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). In order to effectively intervene in PTSD, studies of other psychopharmacological agents are necessary, specifically of agents which affect limbic activation, decreased frontal lobe functioning, altered HPA activity, and other biological features of PTSD. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Defensive mind-body states are fixed action patterns that are repeated or reactivated by environmental triggers, including motor patterns, autonomic responses and opioid mediated analgesia.
“Here, Kozlowska et al. (2015) described defensive mind-body states as fixed action patterns that are repeated or reactivated by environmental triggers, including motor patterns, autonomic responses and opioid mediated analgesia (e.g., van der Kolk, 2001).”
From A review of the relation between dissociation, memory, executive functioning and social cognition in military members and civilians with neuropsychiatric conditions (2016) · cites this paper as van der Kolk, 2001
Endogenous opioid secretion following exposure to trauma-related stimuli has been reported among individuals with PTSD, whose self-reported responses included emotional blunting.
“Indeed, stressful situations elicit the release of endogenous opioids, as is seen in stress-induced analgesia (van der Kolk et al., 1989) and endogenous opioid secretion following exposure to trauma-related stimuli has been reported among individuals with PTSD, whose self-reported responses included emotional blunting (van der Kolk, 2001).”
From A review of the relation between dissociation, memory, executive functioning and social cognition in military members and civilians with neuropsychiatric conditions (2016) · cites this paper as van der Kolk, 2001
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“Here, Kozlowska et al. (2015) described defensive mind-body states as fixed action patterns that are repeated or reactivated by environmental triggers, including motor patterns, autonomic responses and opioid mediated analgesia (e.g., van der Kolk, 2001).”
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- Authors
- van der Kolk, B. A.
- Venue
- Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2001-01
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- S1
- Pages
- S49-S64
- ISSN
- 0885-6222 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-1077
- OpenAlex
- W2159450883
- Cited by
- 97
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 2.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, psychobiology, psychopharmacology, brain structure and function, catecholamines, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, limbic system, frontal lobe dysfunction
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