title: [Post-traumatic stress disorder. New research findings].
abstract: This article reviews recent research results on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Epidemiological studies show that PTSD is a common disorder within the normal population with a high degree of chronic courses. Degree of severity as well as dissociative symptoms during the traumatic event seem to have an impact on course and outcome of PTSD. A genetic disposition, familial psychopathology and premorbid personality traits as background variables seem to have an influence on the development of PTSD whereas coping strategies, as well as social support, modify the course of the disease. The investigation of biological parameters refers to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-axis system, provocation studies, psychophysiological studies, and studies of the endogenous opiate system. In regard to therapy studies only those with a randomised allocation to two different therapies as well as with a control group without therapy or a waiting list group are considered, using the DSM-III or DSM-III-R diagnostic criteria for PtSD. Five pharmacological studies could show a positive effect by antidepressants. Six behaviour therapy studies (two systematic desensitisation and four flioding) produced an improvement of PTSD symptomatology. The pathogenetic models discussed here are memory imprinting, kindling, dysregulation of the opioid neuromodulation, classical conditioning and disturbed cognitive schemas, which reflect as single models only a facet of the pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planc-Institut für Psychiatire, München.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bronisch
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*
vernacular_title: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder-Posttraumatische Belastungsstörung. Neure Forschungsergebnisse.