Circuit dysregulation and circuit-based treatments in posttraumatic stress disorder

Jony Sheynin, Israel Liberzon

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

63 Scopus citations

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder that develops in some individuals in the aftermath of exposure to traumatic events, such as actual or threatened death, serious injury or sexual assault. It has been hypothesized that dysregulations in a number of specific neurocircuits, characterized by heightened responsivity of amygdala, dACC and insula, diminished responsivity of mPFC, impaired hippocampal function and deficits in cortical regions, underlie the development and expression of key PTSD symptoms. Here, we concisely describe three functional neural circuits implicated in PTSD pathophysiology and briefly review selected treatment strategies in the context of these neural circuits. We start with the commonly implicated neurocircuit model, namely, the fear learning and threat detection circuits, and then discuss the context processing circuitry, which plays an important role among others, in fear regulation. We then discuss the emotion regulation circuitry, which can further contribute to PTSD pathophysiology, and conclude with a discussion of the therapeutic approaches that might be targeting dysregulation in these circuits in PTSD patients. Specifically, we discuss how exposure-based treatments might be targeting fear learning circuits, and the pharmacological and brain-stimulation interventions aimed to augment these therapies. Finally, we discuss other pharmacological and cognitive therapeutic approaches that can augment or restore the function of the context processing and emotional regulation circuits.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)133-138
Number of pages6
JournalNeuroscience Letters
Volume649
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 May 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Circuit dysregulation
  • Circuit- based treatments
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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