Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Nursing

Posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD for short, is a mental health condition that occurs when a memory of a past traumatic event causes recurrent mental and physical distress. This condition usually occurs in clients who have either witnessed or directly experienced a traumatic event, like war or sexual assault.

Now, let’s focus on the physiology of the limbic system, which consists of a group of brain structures located under the cerebral cortex, including the amygdala, and hippocampus. Together these structures help regulate emotions, like anger and fear; as well as behavior, such as aggression and sexual activity.

The limbic system also influences memory formation and recollection of memories, especially those that contain a fear element; and it can even affect the response of the autonomic nervous system, like cardiovascular or gastrointestinal functions.

Additionally, the limbic system helps activate the fight or flight response, which occurs when a person is faced with a potential threat or stressful situation. The neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system and fight or flight response is norepinephrine, which increases the heart rate, blood pressure, arousal, as well as startle response.

Now, the main cause of posttraumatic stress disorder is experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as a life-threatening situation, physical injury, combat trauma, sexual assault, or child abuse.

Even though most people don’t develop posttraumatic stress disorder in response to a stressful event, some factors that increase the risk of this condition include personal or family history of mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression; being assigned female at birth; military experience; childhood trauma; and finally, lower level of education.

Now, the mechanisms underlying the pathology of posttraumatic stress disorder are poorly understood, but there seems to be abnormal neurotransmitter release. As a result, communication between neurons in the limbic system is impaired. Some parts of the limbic system, like the amygdala, which triggers a fight or flight response, can become overactive, leading to fight or flight responses in the absence of an actual threat or danger. At the same time, other parts of the limbic system, like the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory formation, may become hypoactive, leading to recurrent memories about the event and flashbacks.