Mindfulness and Fear Extinction: A Brief Review of Its Current Neuropsychological Literature and Possible Implications for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

2017 ◽  
Vol 121 (5) ◽  
pp. 792-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Auretta S. Kummar
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Fear Extinction ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Current State

Research in the neuroscience of mindfulness has grown rapidly in recent years. This includes empirical investigations into structural and functional changes in several brain regions—particularly, the hippocampus, the prefrontal cortex, and the amygdala—in association with the practice of mindfulness. Of interest to the current paper is that such brain regions are also implicated in empirical research focusing on fear extinction. While fear extinction has, therefore, been suggested as one of the possible mechanisms to underlie the positive effects of mindfulness, the conceptual links and research implications have lacked specific focus and detailed discussion in the literature. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, two-fold. First, this paper briefly reviews the extant literature on the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying mindfulness—particularly that, which has been found to be similarly implied in fear extinction—and hence, suggests future research directions based on its current state in the literature. Second, this paper explores the implications of this for fear-based psychopathologies, specifically for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Discussion from this paper suggests the idea of fear extinction as an underlying mechanism of mindfulness to be one that is still preliminary, yet promising; in turn, elucidating the need for further methodologically rigorous study to specifically determine fear extinction as a result of mindfulness, as well as to incorporate neuroimaging techniques in supporting the existing literature that have found preliminary support of mindfulness for PTSD.

scholarly journals Biomarkers in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Overview and Implications for Future Research

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 43-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrike Schmidt ◽  
Sebastian F. Kaltwasser ◽  
Carsten T. Wotjak
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Sexual Abuse ◽  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Clinical Use ◽  
Current State ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
State Of Research

PTSD can develop in the aftermath of traumatic incidents like combat, sexual abuse, or life threatening accidents. Unfortunately, there are still no biomarkers for this debilitating anxiety disorder in clinical use. Anyhow, there are numerous studies describing potential PTSD biomarkers, some of which might progress to the point of practical use in the future. Here, we outline and comment on some of the most prominent findings on potential imaging, psychological, endocrine, and molecular PTSD biomarkers and classify them into risk, disease, and therapy markers. Since for most of these potential PTSD markers a causal role in PTSD has been demonstrated or at least postulated, this review also gives an overview on the current state of research on PTSD pathobiology.

Factors Associated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptomology Among Women Who Have Experienced Sexual Assault in Canada

2019 ◽  
pp. 088626051986008
Author(s):  
Janice Du Mont ◽  
Holly Johnson ◽  
Cassandra Hill
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Dating Violence ◽  
Sexual Victimization ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
General Social Survey ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Sexually Assaulted

There is a dearth of information about the association of victim-related and assailant-related characteristics and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among sexually assaulted women. Recently, Statistics Canada included items measuring the possible presence of PTSD symptoms in their 2014 nationally representative General Social Survey on Victimization (GSS-V), for the purpose of improving the understanding of mental health impacts associated with sexual victimization. The present study used the GSS-V to examine the association of sociodemographic, health, and assailant characteristics and prior traumatic experiences in the form of physical or sexual dating violence, physical assault, stalking, childhood abuse, and witnessing of violence between parents with PTSD symptomology among sexually assaulted women. Among 319 women who reported experiencing at least one incident of sexual assault in the 12 months prior to the survey, 68.6% had experienced at least one negative emotional impact as a result, among whom, 43.6% reported past-month PTSD symptoms. Logistic regression modeling revealed that prior traumatic events in the form of physical or sexual dating violence, stalking, and having witnessed violence between parents were associated with higher odds of experiencing PTSD symptoms, as was having been sexually assaulted by a known assailant. In contrast, the odds of experiencing PTSD symptoms was lower for Aboriginal or visible minority women. The results suggest that PTSD symptoms in the near aftermath of sexual victimization are common, and there are a range of factors that contribute to the likelihood of developing these symptoms. Implications for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Aerobic Exercise And Consolidation Of Fear Extinction Learning Among Women With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (8S) ◽  
pp. 303-304
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Crombie ◽  
Anneliis Sartin-Tarm ◽  
Kyrie Sellnow ◽  
Rachel Ahrenholtz ◽  
Sierra Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Fear Extinction ◽  
Extinction Learning

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury in Current Military Populations

2012 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 278-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela L. (Herbig) Wall
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Brain Injuries ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Operational Stress ◽  
Ovid Medline ◽  
Postconcussive Symptoms ◽  
Military Populations ◽  
Multiple Deployments

Background: The use of unconventional weaponry combined with decreased mortality rates and servicemembers being exposed to intense ground combat during multiple deployments has increased the risk of servicemembers living with the consequences of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and combat operational stress. Objective: The purpose of this article is to perform a critical analysis of the literature to identify current rates of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and TBI in military and veteran populations who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan and their combined effects on persistent postconcussive symptoms. Design: A search of the literature with military and veteran populations published after 2001 in Pubmed, OVID/Medline, Cochran Database, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and PsychInfo was conducted using keywords. Results: Twenty studies met inclusion criteria. The literature search yielded mixed results for rates of PTSD, TBI, and comorbid conditions. Conclusions: There is some evidence that comorbid PTSD and TBI result in greater reports of postconcussive symptomology than either condition alone. Limitations include lack of consistency of measurements, sampling biases, and lack of experimental design, and these warrant further exploration. Future research is needed to decrease variability in study findings and elucidate relationships between these disorders and their effects on persistent postconcussive symptomology.

The Cycle of Trauma: Relationship Aggression in Male Vietnam Veterans With Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

1996 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina A. Byrne ◽  
David S. Riggs
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Vietnam Veterans ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Psychological Aggression ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Female Partners ◽  
Relationship Aggression ◽  
Increased Risk

This study examined the association between symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in male Vietnam veterans and their use of aggressive behavior in relationships with intimate female partners. Fifty couples participated in the study. Veterans reported on their PTSD symptoms, and veterans and partners completed measures assessing the veterans’ use of physical, verbal,’ and psychological aggression during the preceding year as well as measures of their own perceptions of problems in the relationship. Results indicated that PTSD symptomatology places veterans at increased risk for perpetrating relationship aggression against their partners. The association between veterans’ PTSD symptoms and their use of aggression in relationships was mediated by relationship problems. Clinical implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Potential Biomarkers of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Psychiatry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 90-99
Author(s):  
N. N. Petrova ◽  
B. G. Butoma ◽  
M. V. Dorofeikova
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Molecular Genetic ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Current State ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Somatic Diseases

Background: although the search for biomarkers of mental disorders that is aimed at improving diagnosis, individualizing therapy based on knowledge of pathophysiological processes and preventing the development of mental illness is actively underway for endogenous mental disorders, the study of biological markers in non-endogenous mental disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in particular has received much less attention. Aim: to analyze current state of research dedicated to genetic and biochemical biomarkers that can be used to identify high risk groups and clarify the diagnosis of PTSD. Material and method: keywords “biomarkers”, “post-traumatic stress disorder”, “pathogenesis” have been used to fi nd in PubMed articles published in 2010–2020. Conclusion: research methods for elucidating the mechanisms of PTSD are actively developing, however, the identifi cation of specifi c biomarkers (biochemical, molecular, genetic, epigenetic, neuroimaging, psychophysiological) is a complicated task. This complexity is associated with numerous pathogenic mechanisms of PTSD and frequent comorbidity with mental disorders (depression, anxiety) and somatic diseases, as well as lack of specifi city of detected biomarkers.

scholarly journals An investigation of resting state functional connectivity of the anterior and posterior Hippocampal subregions in posttraumatic stress disorder and its relationship with symptoms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bailee L. Malivoire
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Functional Connectivity ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Resting State ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Imaging Biomarkers ◽  
Resting State Functional Connectivity ◽  
Hippocampal Activity ◽  
The Right

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with abnormal hippocampal activity; however, the functional connectivity (FC) of the hippocampus with other brain regions and its relations with symptoms warrants further attention. I investigated FC of the hippocampus at a subregional level in PTSD during a resting state compared to trauma exposed controls (TECs). Based on imaging literature in PTSD, I targeted the FCs of the hippocampal head and tail subregions with the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), and the posterior cingulate (PCC). The PTSD group had significantly greater FC compared to the TEC group between the left hippocampal head and the right amygdala, and for the left hippocampal tail with bilateral PCC. Resting state FC predicted symptom severity at time of scan and 4-months post-scan. These results highlight abnormal illness-related FC with both the hippocampal head and tail and provide support for future investigations of imaging biomarkers predictive of disease progression.

Epidemiology of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Adults

2012 ◽  
pp. 83-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi Breslau
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Psychiatric Disorders ◽  
Vietnam War ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Vietnam Veterans ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Specific Response ◽  
Epidemiological Surveys

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was established in 1980, when it was incorporated in the DSM-III. The PTSD definition brackets a distinct set of stressors—traumatic events—from other stressful experiences and links it causally with a specific response, the PTSD syndrome. Explicit diagnostic criteria in DSM-III made it feasible to conduct large-scale epidemiological surveys on PTSD and other psychiatric disorders, using structured diagnostic interviews administered by nonclinicians. Epidemiologic research has been expanded from Vietnam veterans, who were the center of DSM-III PTSD study, to civilian populations and postwar regions worldwide. This chapter summarizes information on the prevalence estimates of PTSD in U.S. veterans of the Vietnam War, soldiers returning from deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan, and civilian populations. It outlines research findings on the course of PTSD, risk factors, comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders, and the risk for other posttrauma disoders. It concludes with recommendations for future research.

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