Post-traumatic stress disorder: pathogenesis, epidemiological characteristics, animal models, and potential therapeutic strategies
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex neurobehavioral disorder that disproportionately affects military service members. The clinical presentation of PTSD is heterogeneous and may overlap with other psychiatric conditions. According to the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), common symptoms include memory loss, mood and personality changes, impulsiveness, aggression, anxiety, and depression. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PTSD remain incompletely understood, although research implicates pathways involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, dysfunctional neural circuitry, neurochemical imbalances, neuroinflammatory processes, and genetic and epigenetic factors. Approximately 7% of the U.S. adult population has met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD in their lifetime, with a substantially higher prevalence of 12%-30% among military personnel. Multiple animal models, including single-stressor, intermediate complexity, social interaction, predator stress, and blast exposure paradigms, have been employed to investigate PTSD mechanisms. Current treatment strategies typically integrate pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy. Military service members are at increased risk for blast injuries, which frequently result in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although some symptoms of TBI may resolve, approximately 20% of affected individuals develop new symptoms, including PTSD. Evidence suggests that exposure to…
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