Therapeutic Challenges of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Focus on the Dopaminergic System

Conclusion Currently available pharmacotherapies for PTSD are poorly effective on a substantial proportion of patients. Given this high rate of pharmacological unresponsiveness, further studies are needed to extend the knowledge of the basic mechanisms associated with the pathophysiology of this disorder. The findings discussed in this review suggest that DAergic dysfunction, especially genetic-dependent DAergic alteration, plays a prominent role in the pathophysiology of PTSD; as a consequence, drugs targeting the DAergic system might be therapeutically relevant. A better understanding of how and which DAergic dysfunction contributes to the symptoms of PTSD patients with different genetic background may lead to the development of effective drugs and more personalized treatments. Author Contributions All authors listed have contributed to the work, by searching the literature, critical reading, and summarizing published data and writing this review. All authors listed have approved this review for publication. Funding This work was supported by Piano Triennale per la Ricerca – Linea Intervento 2, University of Catania, Italy. Conflict of Interest Statement The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. References Abraham, A. D., Cunningham, C. L., and Lattal, K. M. (2012). Methylphenidate enhances extinction of contextual fear. Learn....
Source: Frontiers in Pharmacology - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: research