Neurobiology

Abstract

In recent years, a steadily growing number of investigations has led to rapid progress in the understanding of the neurobiological basis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Apart from the impressive clinical picture, the fascination that this disease holds for neurobiologically oriented researchers is certainly largely due to the fact that stress research and research into the neural, molecular-biological and pharmacological foundations of psychopathology complement and cross-fertilise each other. This is particularly evident in the areas of the influence of stress on learning and memory processes as well as in the field of emotion regulation. In this chapter, this interaction and its significance for the understanding of the disease and the therapy of PTSD will be illustrated with a few examples.