Neurobiology of PTSD outlines the basic neural mechanisms that mediate complex responses and adaptations to psychological trauma; describes how these biological processes are impaired in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and discusses how the environmental exposure to trauma interacts with the brain to create the syndrome of PTSD.

This volume focuses on the behavioral neuroscience that supports our understanding of the neurobiology of trauma risk and response. The collection of articles focuses on both preclinical and clinical reviews of (1) state-of-the-art knowledge of mechanisms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and co-occurring disorders, (2) the biological and psychological constructs that support risk and resiliency for trauma disorders, and (3), novel treatment strategies and therapeutics on the horizon.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common and severe psychiatric disorder precipitated by exposure to a psychologically distressing event. PTSD is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and is characterised by the presence of three distinct, but co-occurring, symptom clusters. Research evidence suggests that PTSD has a neurobiological basis. Current research on the neurobiology of PTSD include the utilisation of functional brain imaging; molecular genetic research; and, the incorporation of cross-system research including neuroendocrine, neurochemical, and neuroimmunological systems. This book examines the neurobiological basis of PTSD and the future research goals in regards to these findings.

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"Rauch and McLean bridge the gap between neuroscience research and the treatment of PTSD patients. Individuals with PTSD have developed automatic associations between specific stimuli and traumatic events. As a result, these individuals experience intense fear when exposed to the stimuli, even though the original threat is no longer present. This book presents prolonged exposure therapy (PE), a specific manualized exposure therapy program for PTSD. A variant of exposure therapy, PE is a cognitive behavioral approach designed to reduce pathological anxiety and related emotions by helping patients approach relatively safe but distress-provoking thoughts, memories, situations, and stimuli, with the goal of reducing unhelpful emotional reactions to those stimuli. Informed by extensive research but written for clinicians, the book explains how neuroscience can guide our application of the three key components of PE: (1) psychoeducation about the nature of trauma, (2) in vivo exposure to trauma reminders, and (3) imaginal exposure to the memory of the traumatic event followed by processing of the imaginal and other exposures"--

Emotion in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder provides an up-to-date review of the empirical research on the relevance of emotions, such as fear, anxiety, shame, guilt, and disgust to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It also covers emerging research on the psychophysiology and neurobiological underpinnings of emotion in PTSD, as well as the role of emotion in the behavioral, cognitive, and affective difficulties experienced by individuals with PTSD. It concludes with a review of evidence-based treatment approaches for PTSD and their ability to mitigate emotion dysfunction in PTSD, including prolonged exposure, cognitive processing therapy, and acceptance-based behavioral therapy. - Identifies how emotions are central to understanding PTSD. - Explore the neurobiology of emotion in PTSD. - Discusses emotion-related difficulties in relation to PTSD, such as impulsivity and emotion dysregulation. - Provides a review of evidence-based PTSD treatments that focus on emotion.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: From Neurobiology to Treatment presents a comprehensive look at this key neuropsychiatric disorder. The text examines the neurobiological basis of post-traumatic stress and how our understanding of the basic elements of the disease have informed and been translated into new and existing treatment options. The book begins with a section on animal models in posttraumatic stress disorder research, which has served as the basis of much of our neurobiological information. Chapters then delve into applications of the clinical neuroscience of posttraumatic stress disorder. The final part of the books explores treatments and how our basic and clinical research is now being converted into treatment. Taking a unique basic science to translational intervention approach, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: From Neurobiology to Treatment is an invaluable resource for researchers, students and clinicians dealing with this complex disorder.

This book presents a decade of advances in the psychological, biological and social responses to disasters, helping medics and leaders prepare and react.

The emotional and behavioral symptoms associated with PTSD have been widely studied, but until recently, much less was known about neuropsychological aspects of the disorder. This volume brings together leading experts to synthesize current knowledge on how trauma affects the brain. Integrating compelling insights from neurobiology with clinical and cognitive perspectives, the book presents cutting-edge theoretical advances with major implications for assessment and treatment. Clearly written and well documented, the volume explores the emergence of neuropsychological dysfunction in specific trauma populations: children, adults, older adults, and victims of closed-head injury. Coverage encompasses a range of chronic problems with memory, attention, and information processing, including biases in the ways that PTSD sufferers attend to and remember emotionally relevant information, as well as how they encode and retrieve trauma-related memories. Throughout, authors back up their arguments with salient empirical research, highlighting key findings from functional neuroimaging and electrophysiology. Methodological dilemmas and controversies are also addressed, such as the challenges of studying a disorder with frequent psychiatric and medical comorbidities. Timely and authoritative, this comprehensive work provides vital knowledge for trauma specialists and other researchers and clinicians, including neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists, and psychiatrists. It will also be of interest to advanced students in these areas.

Originally published by Viking Penguin, 2014.