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MINI REVIEW article

Front. Psychiatry
Sec. Anxiety and Stress Disorders
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1356563
This article is part of the Research Topic The underlying mechanisms of stress related disorders and potential treatment maneuvers View all 7 articles

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Role of the Amygdala and Potential Therapeutic Interventions -A Review

Provisionally accepted
Lori L. Davis Lori L. Davis 1,2,3Mark B. Hamner Mark B. Hamner 4,5*
  • 1 Research Service, Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States
  • 2 Department of Psychiatry, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, United States
  • 3 Department of Psychiatry, University of Alabama College of Community Health Science, Tuscaloosa, AL, United States
  • 4 Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, United States
  • 5 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Introduction: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder triggered by exposure to a life-threatening or sexually violent traumatic event, and is characterized by symptoms involving intrusive re-experiencing, persistent avoidance of associated stimuli, emotional and cognitive disturbances, and hyperarousal for long periods after the trauma has occurred. These debilitating symptoms induce occupational and social impairments that contribute to a significant clinical burden for PTSD patients, and substantial socioeconomic costs, reaching approximately $20,000 dollars per individual with PTSD each year in the US. Despite increased translational research focus in the field of PTSD, the development of novel, effective pharmacotherapies for its treatment remains an important unmet clinical need. Observations: In this review, we summarize the evidence implicating dysfunctional activity of the amygdala in the pathophysiology of PTSD. We identify the transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) ion channels as promising drug targets given their distribution in the amygdala, and evidence from animal studies demonstrating their role in fear response modulation. We discuss the evidence-based pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy treatment approaches for PTSD. Discussion: In view of the prevalence and economic burden associated with PTSD, further investigation is warranted into novel treatment approaches based on our knowledge of the involvement of brain circuitry and the role of the amygdala in PTSD, as well as the potential added value of combined pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy to better manage PTSD symptoms.

    Keywords: Post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, Amygdala, pathophysiology, Pharmacotherapy, transient receptor potential canonical ion channel

    Received: 15 Dec 2023; Accepted: 16 May 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Davis and Hamner. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Mark B. Hamner, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.