Long-lasting hormonal alterations to extreme stress in humans: normative or maladaptive?
The biological consequences of stress have been studied for over half a decade, however, little is known about persistent biological alterations after extreme stress in humans. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a syndrome that occurs in some individuals after exposure to extreme stress. In this review, we summarize some of our studies of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis alterations in PTSD and compare and contrast these findings with knowledge concerning biological changes following stress.
Yehuda
R
R
Department of Psychiatry, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York.
Resnick
H
H
Kahana
B
B
Giller
E L
EL
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D003907:Dexamethasone; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone