Impaired inhibition as an intermediate phenotype for PTSD risk and treatment response

Publication date: Available online 28 October 2018Source: Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological PsychiatryAuthor(s): Sanne J.H. van Rooij, Tanja JovanovicAbstractInhibition of fear involves learning and then appropriately responding to safety signals, and has been shown to be impaired in PTSD patients. Response inhibition refers to cognitive control and likely uses the same prefrontal cortex circuits as fear inhibition, and has also been implicated in PTSD. Impaired inhibition can serve as an intermediate phenotype for PTSD and can be measured with neuroimaging and psychophysiological tools. We first review the neurobiological mechanisms of fear and response inhibition. Next, we summarize the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and psychophysiological studies using fear and response inhibition paradigms in PTSD patients. Finally, we evaluate the theranostic role of impaired inhibition in PTSD risk and treatment response.
Source: Progress in Neuro Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research