Clinical correlates of neurological change in posttraumatic stress disorder: an overview of critical systems

Work on the neurobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has significant social, financial, and political implications. Establishing the biological basis of PTSD is critical to changing public perception of the disorder, providing a rational explanation to patients for their suffering, and developing the most effective treatments possible. This article summarizes the contribution of four critical neural systems to the clinical presentation of PTSD: the locus coeruleus, the hippocampus, the amygdala, and the thalamus. In discussing these structures and their connections, many of the more prominent responses to trauma, including hyperarousal, memory disturbance, and dissociation can be understood. The article concludes with a discussion of the impact this research is likely to have, not only on public perception, but also on how trauma survivors perceive themselves.