Towards a better understanding of psychotraumatology: cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying stress-related disorders

Stress-related disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety disorders, are highly prevalent and represent a significant global health burden. While behavioral and clinical research have deepened our understanding of these disorders, the fundamental cellular and molecular processes that drive risk, resistance, and individual differences are not well understood. Uncovering these mechanisms is crucial for the development of more targeted and effective interventions, towards a personalized medicine in psychiatry. There is growing evidence that diverse cellular populations (including neurons, glia, and immune cells) and intricate molecular signaling pathways are actively involved in mediating vulnerability or resilience to stress and trauma. Furthermore, advances in molecular biology, neuropharmacology, and brain imaging technologies are beginning to transform our ability to dissect these processes at high resolution.


This Research Topic aims to advance the field of anxiety disorders and PTSD by featuring novel insights into the cellular and molecular processes that drive susceptibility, resilience, and recovery following psychological trauma or stress.

We welcome cutting-edge in vitro and in vivo research — including original research articles, reviews, and perspectives — that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:
• Cellular, molecular and behavioral effects in models of psychological trauma and stress
• Cell signaling targets for PTSD and/or anxiety
• Treating PTSD/anxiety: novel approaches for improved therapeutics and treatment response


By bringing together researchers from neuroscience, molecular biology, pharmacology and psychiatry, this Research Topic aims to foster a more integrative and translational approach to understanding and treating anxiety disorders and PTSD at the cellular and molecular level.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: stress, anxiety, psychiatry, signaling pathway, cell signaling

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.