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Stress and Resilience in Combat-Related PTSD: Integration of Psychological Theory and Biological Mechanisms

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Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

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Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric disorder that has a major impact on the ability to function effectively in daily life. PTSD may develop as a response to exposure to an event or events perceived as potentially harmful or life-threatening. It has high prevalence rates in the community, especially among vulnerable groups such as military personnel or those in emergency services. Despite extensive research in this field, the underlying mechanisms of the disorder remain largely unknown. The identification of risk factors for PTSD has posed a particular challenge as there can be delays in onset of the disorder, and most people who are exposed to traumatic events will not meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

With the advent of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM V), the classification for PTSD has changed from an anxiety disorder into the category of stress- and trauma-related disorders. This has the potential to refocus PTSD research on the nature of stress and the stress response relationship. This review focuses on some of the important findings from psychological and biological research based on early models of stress and resilience. Improving our understanding of PTSD by investigating both genetic and psychological risk and coping factors that influence stress response, as well as their interaction, may provide a basis for more effective and earlier intervention.

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Abbreviations

5-HTTLPR:

Serotonin-transporter-linked polymorphic region

ACTH:

Adrenocorticotropic hormone

ADRB2:

Beta-2-adrenergic receptor

BDNF:

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor

CRHR1:

Corticotropin-releasing hormone type-1 receptor

DRD2:

Dopamine receptor D2

DSM:

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

FKBP5:

FK506 binding protein 5

GAS:

General adaptation model

HPA axis:

Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis

NMDA:

N-Methyl-D-aspartate

NOS1AP:

Nitric oxide synthase 1 adaptor protein

PBMC:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells

PRTFDC1:

Phosphoribosyltransferase domain containing 1

PTG:

Posttraumatic growth

PTSD:

Post-traumatic stress disorder

SLC6A4:

Human serotonin transporter

TNFα:

Tumor necrosis factor alpha

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), Queensland University of Technology, 60 Musk Avenue, Kelvin Grove, QLD, 4059, Australia

    Dagmar Bruenig, Charles P. Morris, Ross McD Young & Joanne Voisey

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  1. Dagmar Bruenig
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  2. Charles P. Morris
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  3. Ross McD Young
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  4. Joanne Voisey
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Correspondence to Joanne Voisey .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Buckinghamshire New University, Uxbridge, Middlesex, United Kingdom

    Colin R. Martin

  2. Kings College, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Bruenig, D., Morris, C.P., Young, R.M., Voisey, J. (2015). Stress and Resilience in Combat-Related PTSD: Integration of Psychological Theory and Biological Mechanisms. In: Martin, C., Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Comprehensive Guide to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08613-2_110-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08613-2_110-1

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