Brian injury increases susceptibility to PTSD

A new association has been found between traumatic brain injury and increased susceptibility to post traumatic stress disorder. UCLA life scientists and their colleagues discovered the causal link between the two and also suggest that people who suffer even mild traumatic brain injury are more likely to develop an anxiety disorder. People suffering from these types of injuries should be watched closely in the weeks and months after injury to see if PTSD develops and needs to be treated.

Researchers had observed a correlation between traumatic brain injury (TBO) and PTSD most particularly in military veterans returning from service. This is according to Michael Fanselow, a UCLA professor of psychology and the senior author. The reason for the correlation is unknown and may not be causal.

The study start with rats. They were given a concussive brain injury (physical trauma) and then experienced fear conditioning (psychological trauma). Therefore the physical and psychological experiences were separated.

“We found that the rats with the earlier TBI had acquired more fear than control rats (without TBO),” said Fanselow. “Something about the brain injury rendered them more susceptible to acquiring an inappropriately strong fear. It was as if the injury printed the brain for learning to be afraid.”

After analyzing brain tissue, “We found that there are significantly more receptors for excitatory neurotransmitters that promote learning,” said Maxine Reger, a UCLA graduate student of psychology in Fanselow’s lab. “This finding suggests that rain injury leaves the amygdala in a more excitable state that readies it for acquiring potent fear,” continued Fanselow.

Anyone experiencing head trauma needs to be protected from further stresses after the injury and treated if signs of PTSD occur.

Source: ScienceDaily, Biological Psychology