February 08, 2010
|
|
The Invisible Epidemic: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Memory and the Brain
J. Douglas Bremner, M.D.
Dr. Bremner is a faculty member of the Departments of Diagnostic Radiology and Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, Yale Psychiatric Institute, and National Center for PTSD-VA Connecticut Healthcare System.
The research reviewed in this article was supported by an NIH-sponsored General Clinical Research Center (GCRC) Clinical Associate Physician (CAP) Award and a VA Research Career Development Award to Dr. Bremner, and the National Center for PTSD Grant. Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is something of an invisible epidemic. The events underlying it are often mysterious and always unpleasant. It is certainly far more widespread than most people realize. For example, a prime cause of PTSD is childhood sexual abuse. About 16% of American women (about 40 million) are sexually abused (including rape, attempted rape, or other form of molestation) before they reach their 18th birthday.(1) Childhood abuse may be the most common cause of PTSD in American women, 10% of whom suffer from PTSD (compared to 5% for men) at some time in their lives,(2) but many other types of psychological trauma can cause the disorder — car accidents, military combat, rape and assault. Symptoms of PTSD include intrusive memories, nightmares, flashbacks, increased vigilance, social impairment and problems with memory and concentration. It's Not Just Psychological
While such symptoms are commonly understood to be psychological problems, some or all of them may well be related to the physical effects of extreme stress on the brain.(3)(4)
Recent studies have shown that victims of childhood abuse and combat veterans actually experience physical changes to the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory, as well as in the handling of stress.(5) The hippocampus also works closely with the medial prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain that regulates our emotional response to fear and stress. PTSD sufferers often have impairments in one or both of these brain regions. Studies of children have found that these impairments can lead to problems with learning and academic achievement. Other typical symptoms of PTSD in children, including fragmentation of memory, intrusive memories, flashbacks, dissociation (or the unconscious separation of some mental processes from the others, e.g., a mismatch between facial expression and thought or mood), and pathological ("sick") emotions, may also be related to impairment of the hippocampus.(6) Damage to the hippocampus, which processes memory, may explain why victims of childhood abuse often seem to have incomplete or delayed recall of their abusive experiences.(7)
Add Your Comment: Note: We regret that we cannot answer medical questions.
Comment by: Valentina
Sun., Feb. 7, 2010 at 9:52 am EST I've been suffering with PTSD as long as I can remember but was diagnosed when I was 22, I'm 31 now. I was abused by my stepfather for 9 years and I told anyone who would listen but no-one helped. I've had Psychological treatments for 8 years now including CBT but I do feel brain damaged. I have a wide range of symptoms; depression, bad memory, ability to focus, sleep patterns, reocurrent cystitis, flashbacks, avoidance, agoraphobia, panick attacks, sexual disfunction, fear of anything, lack of confidence, hives, fatigue, anxiety, general physical and mental discomfort, the list goes on. My brother committed suicide when I was 21 after six years of mental illness after an attempt at suicide with large quantities of class A drugs. My sister received a large payout from the compensation authority for her experiences of abuse in my family so I'm persuing the same in the hopes that I can persue more successful forms of treatment which the NHS don't provide. I fear my brain might never recover fully.
Comment by: Anonymous
Wed., Feb. 3, 2010 at 6:45 pm EST Hi nigella that's so odd u mentioned your driving I have that too thank god it's not just me. That makes me feel heeps better
Comment by: hope123
Thu., Jan. 28, 2010 at 12:28 pm EST my mom and dad struggle with this and i suspect i do too. i have no way to prove anything that happened in my childhood, i remember little, but what i do remember i do not talk about. my mom denies it strongly. i really dont think she remembers some of the stuf she did to me. it is really hard to figure out what to believe when you dont know or remember. i am looking for the truth, but maybe it would be easier to just forget and move on... who knows.
Comment by: tiger1965
Fri., Jan. 22, 2010 at 3:44 am EST I don't remember enough of what happened to convince my mother that i'm not lying. I remember enough to know that he did something, but not what. This helps explain a lot to me . I'm not sure i want to remember anymore but i feel i should. I didn't do well in school, enough to get by. I just didn't have any confidence in my abilities so didn't try. Ptsd makes sense to me on many levels.
Comment by: alexg722
(USA)
Tue., Jan. 12, 2010 at 12:13 am EST Very nice site!
Comment by: DEE DEE
Mon., Jan. 11, 2010 at 8:27 pm EST I was abused as a child. I do not have any memeory of my youth. My child is 4 i can't remember bringing her home. i can not remember my wedding day either. I Have block out my life. I would have horriable PTD. I am thankful i do not have to relive those emotions anymore. I am saden that i can't remember my happest moments of my life. If you suffer from PTD. please get help. don't turn out like me.
Comment by: Mary Ann Bowers
Tue., Jan. 5, 2010 at 4:55 pm EST I am 51 and to this day I struggle to get through, each day.. my brother is two years younger and also a victim of child abuse, he has become mental ill walking the world, me I have kept myself strong with prayer, with out that I could not cope... always looking for help, but learned in life there is none.
Comment by: Art Doctor
Tue., Jan. 5, 2010 at 4:17 pm EST Excellent research and article- explains many cases.
Comment by: Rebecca Moise
Sun., Jan. 3, 2010 at 8:35 pm EST These important findings are usually ignored in the investigation of childhood sexual abuse. The child's ability to describe clearly what he or she experienced is limited by many factors, including the disturbance of memory discussed here. Case after case is thus "unfounded" and the child sent back to court-ordered visitation with the perpetrator. As a child therapist I have seen many such tragedies, and have started documenting them. These scientific findings seem not to register with the judicial process, child protective services, Guardian ad Litem programs, etc. Something needs to be done about this.
Comment by: nigella
Sun., Jan. 3, 2010 at 7:37 am EST so, so interesting. explains why drving is hard for me: although i am a good driver, each time i come to do it i wonder/worry if i will be able to, even when i stop at traffic lights; it is as if i suddenly cannot remembr what i am supposed to do. this happens to me a lot, in other areas too, such as meeting people, paying at a till. thank you for this research. i know i have been damaged by my abuse, how could i not. it is interesting to know that this damage is concrete and actual within the brain, and it mkes me feel better, in that it is no weakness to be damaged by child abuse. the brain, i feel, re-structures itself to cope with and endure it's suffering, which is, wonderfuly, why we can put ourselves back together and recover, even after the most horrififc incidences. god bless. |
| The Doctor Will See You Now | |
LEGAL RESTRICTIONS AND TERMS OF USE OF THIS SITE. USE OF THIS SITE IS YOUR AGREEMENT TO THESE TERMS. Copyright 2010 interMDnet Corporation. All rights reserved. About Us | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | System Requirements |