PTSD: From Cells to Communities

This webinar looked at new research in the neurobiology of PTSD, discuss brain regions and neural circuits believed to underlie PTSD, provide further understanding on current approaches to treating PTSD, and educate about other potential new treatment methods. Eligible for 1 CE/ Credit Hour.

PTSD is common, debilitating, and poses a significant risk for suicide.  Furthermore, while it is common in veterans, many are not aware of its prevalence in America's impoverished, urban neighborhoods that have high rates of violence.

Several risk factors for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in trauma survivors have been identified. These include severity and duration of the trauma, childhood abuse and neglect and lack of family or social support.  Understanding the role of violence, poverty, and other components of high-risk environments is important for progress in stemming the cycles of risk in communities.

From the perspective of mechanism, fear-related disorder such as post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder and phobia manifest in ways that are consistent with an uncontrollable state of fear.

Their development involves heredity, previous sensitizing experiences, association of aversive events with previous neutral stimuli, and inability to inhibit or extinguish fear after it is chronic and disabling.

Dr. Ressler hghlights recent progress in fear learning and memory, differential genetic susceptibility to disorders of fear, and how these findings are being applied to the understanding, treatment and possible prevention of fear disorders.

Promising advances are being translated from basic science to the clinic. Cutting edge approaches to understand the genetic and epigenetic regulation at a cell-type specific level within amygdala, medial prefrontal, and hippocampal circuitry as it relates to fear extinction will be discussed.

At the end of this webinar, attendees will be able to:

1. Describe new research across patient populations and animal models into the neurobiology of PTSD.
2. Discuss brain regions and neural circuits thought to underlie PTSD.
3. Educate others on potential new treatment methods, as well as further understanding current approaches to treating PTSD.

Presentation Level: Intermediate

This webinar is not eligible for CE credit.