Prevention of Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders: A Review

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a common, frequently chronic, and disabling condition which, along with acute stress disorder (ASD), is categorized as a trauma-and stressor-related disorder by the DSM-5. These disorders are unique in requiring exposure to a severe stressor, which implies that potential sufferers could be identified and helped before developing a disorder. Research on prevention strategies for stress-related disorders has taken a number of avenues, including intervention before and after trauma and the use of both psychosocial and somatic approaches. Despite advances in neurobiological understanding of response to trauma, clinical evidence for preventive interventions remains sparse. This review provides an overview of prevention approaches and summarizes the existing literature on prevention of ASD and PTSD, including clinical and preclinical studies. Given the potential benefits to trauma survivors and society, the development of effective preventive interventions should be given greater priority. Resources should be directed to adequately test promising interventions in clinical trials, and research should be conducted according to translational research principles in which preclinical research informs the design of clinical studies.

Glycyrrhizin Treatment Facilitates Extinction of Conditioned Fear Responses After a Single Prolonged Stress Exposure in Rats

“…PTSD patients usually experience severe anxiety, fear, and trauma related environmental escape, which seriously decrease the life quality of patients [1, 2]. Thus, one of the focuses on PTSD studies is to investigate the neuropathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of PTSD [6] in order to develop effective intervention to prevent PTSD.…”

Impact of Stress on the Brain: Pathology, Treatment and Prevention

“…Howlett and Stein review updates on prevention and treatment in this arena and how a newer understanding of stress circuitry and biology may inform novel approaches (Howlett and Stein, 2016). Finally, understanding comorbidity of stress and trauma with other disorders, less typically associated with these circuits, is of critical importance.…”

Trauma Disclosure Moderates the Effects of Oxytocin on Intrusions and Neural Responses to Fear

“…Unlike most other psychiatric disorders, a PTSD diagnosis requires a clearly identifiable inciting event. As such, a number of psychosocial and somatic preventive interventions have been tested in recently traumatized individuals [2]. Neuroendocrinological targets include the hypothalamic peptide oxytocin (OXT).…”