title: The contribution of an animal model toward uncovering biological risk factors for PTSD.
abstract: Clinical studies of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have elicited proposed risk factors for developing PTSD in the aftermath of stress exposure. Generally, these risk factors have arisen from retrospective analysis of premorbid characteristics of study populations. A valid animal model of PTSD can complement clinical studies and help to elucidate issues, such as the contribution of proposed risk factors, in ways which are not practicable in the clinical arena. Important qualities of animal models include the possibility to conduct controlled prospective studies, easy access to postmortem brains, and the availability of genetically manipulated subjects, which can be tailored to specific needs. When these qualities are further complemented by an approach which defines phenomenologic criteria to address the variance in individual response pattern and magnitude, enabling the animal subjects to be classified into definable groups for focused study, the model acquires added validity. This article presents an overview of a series of studies in such an animal model which examine the contribution of two proposed risk factors and the value of two early postexposure pharmacological manipulations on the prevalence rates of subjects displaying an extreme magnitude of behavioral response to a predator stress paradigm.
authors.affiliation: Anxiety and Stress Research Unit, Ministry of Health Mental Health Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84170, Israel. hagitc@bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Hagit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Matar
authors.forename: Gal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Richter-Levin
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zohar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D011599:Psychopathology; D051381:Rats; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents