Traumatic stressors such as early trauma can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which affects about 8% of Americans at some time In their lives,as well as depression, substance abuse,dissociation, personality disorders,and health problems
For many trauma victims, PTSD can be a lifelong problem.The President’s New Freedom Commission Report highlights the Importance of providing services for mental disorders related to early trauma
However, the development of effective treatments is limited by gaps in knowledge about the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that mediate symptoms of traumarelated disorders like PTSD. This paper reviews preclinical and clinical studies on the effects of traumatic stress on the brain.