Modelling posttraumatic stress disorders in animals

Publication date: Available online 20 November 2018Source: Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological PsychiatryAuthor(s): Bibiana Török, Eszter Sipos, Nela Pivac, Dóra ZelenaAbstractAnimal models of posttraumatic stress disorder are useful tools to reveal the neurobiological basis of the vulnerability to traumatic events, and to develop new treatment strategies, as well as predicting treatment response contributing to personalized medicine approach.Different models have different construct, face and predictive validity and they model different symptoms of the disease. The most prevalent models are the single prolonged stress, electric foot-shock and predator odor. Freezing as ‘re-experiencing’ in cluster B and startle as ‘arousal’ in cluster E according to DSM-5 are the most frequently studied parameters; however, several other symptoms related to mood, cognitive and social skills are part of the examinations. Beside behavioral characteristics, symptoms of exaggerated sympathetic activity and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis as well as signs of sleep disturbances are also warranted.Test battery rather than a single test is required to describe a model properly and the results should be interpreted in a comprehensive way, e.g. creating a z-score. Research is shifting to study larger populations and identifying the features of the resilient and vulnerable individuals, which cannot be easily done in humans. Incorporation of the “three hit theoryâ...
Source: Progress in Neuro Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research