Understanding the Factors Leading to the Development of PTSD

Understanding the Factors Leading to the Development of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can occur after a distressing event. This disorder affects approximately 8 million U.S. adults, and it can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background. Research shows that Black people, Latinos, and Native Americans, as well as women, have higher rates of PTSD compared to non-Latino whites and men, respectively.

PTSD is often associated with events that involve intense horror, helplessness, or fear of a loss of life. Common causes of PTSD include being a victim of a crime, childbirth experiences, childhood or domestic abuse, homicide of a loved one, mass violence, natural disasters, physical violence, severe accidents, sexual assault, torture, war or combat, and working in high-risk jobs such as the military or police force.

The body's response to a traumatic event involves a "fight-or-flight" response, with the release of stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). However, for those living with PTSD, the body gets "stuck" in this mode, continuing to release large amounts of stress hormones. This prolonged exposure to stress hormones can lead to the destruction of hippocampus cells, making it less effective at keeping fearful memories in check. As a result, symptoms of PTSD may include disturbing thoughts and feelings relating to the trauma, nightmares, hyperarousal, flashbacks, anger, and memory issues.

Genetics play a significant role in PTSD, accounting for 5% to 20% of the risk following a traumatic event. Research has found significant genetic overlap between PTSD symptoms and other conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, asthma, insomnia, and heart disease. In a large genetic study conducted by the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC), six gene regions, known as "loci," were significantly linked to PTSD risk, with three being specific to ancestral heritage.

Other factors that can contribute to PTSD and other mental health conditions in veterans include where the war is fought, the type of enemy you're fighting, what you do in the war, and the politics regarding the war. Additionally, being a refugee, having extra stress on top of the trauma, low level of support from family or friends, physical injury or pain during the traumatic event, previous depression or anxiety, repeated trauma, spending time in foster care, and working in a high-risk job can increase the risk of developing PTSD.

Fortunately, help is available for those living with PTSD. Therapy and medication can control and essentially alleviate the symptoms. Effective trauma-focused treatments for PTSD include prolonged exposure (PE) therapy, cognitive processing therapy (CPT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). PTSD falls under the "Other Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder family" in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5).

In a 2006 study, 53% of prisoners of war (POW) met the criteria for lifetime PTSD. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs reports that 11% to 20% of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Global War on Terrorism) veterans developed PTSD in a given year. It's important to remember that seeking help and support is a sign of strength, not weakness, and there are resources available to help those living with PTSD manage their symptoms and regain control of their lives.