Central neurophysiological mechanisms of stress resistance in post-traumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe, disabling syndrome that is induced by an extremely powerful negative impact on the people’s psyche. Symptoms of the disease most often do not appear in the entire population of stressed people and not immediately, but after some indefinite period of time. The disease is caused by central, genetic, epigenetic and neurobiological determinants, interactively integrated within the underlying social and natural-anthropogenic context. The simultaneous development of a pathological reaction from the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal, sympathoadrenal and immune systems was established. Information on the state of the main biogenic and amino acid neurotransmitters of the central nervous system in PTSD is presented. Researchers are currently focusing on peptide hormones such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neuropeptide Y, and leptin, which can be used to diagnose and treat PTSD. An analysis of the literature led to the conclusion that about the characteristics of stress-resistant people and animals very little is still known.