title: The role of stress and fear in the development of mental disorders.
abstract: The most common pathologic manifestation of fear is posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Developing PTSD is closely related with predisposing factors such as genes and early traumatic experiences. In PTSD, enhanced fear learning and poor extinction are common. Fear is manifested through autonomic responses and persistent memories of the traumatic event. These manifestations are related to stress responses modulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This article evaluates the role of fear and stress in the course of PTSD. Findings on fear learning and extinction are presented in order to guide future treatments of patients with PTSD.
authors.affiliation: Ponce School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Clinical Psychology Program, PO Box 7004, Ponce, PR 00732-7004, USA.
authors.forename: Polaris
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR 09936-5067, USA. Electronic address: karen.martinez4@upr.edu.
authors.forename: Karen G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Martinez
mesh_terms: D005239:Fear; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Conditioning; Extinction; Fear; PTSD; Stress