Resumen

CASTRO CARBONI, Nino; CAMPOS VILLALOBOS, Ginnette  y  LOPEZ CASTILLO, Cinthia. Neurobiología y tratamiento del trastorno de estrés post- traumático. Med. leg. Costa Rica [online]. 2003, vol.20, n.2, pp.5-14. ISSN 2215-5287.

The psychobiology of posttraumatic stress disorder embraces different neurotransmission systems. In this article, biological aspects of posttraumatic stress disorder are reviewed, providing an exposition of main alternations which take place in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the sympathetic nervous system, the thyroid function, neuropeptide Y, substance P and in other systems. Neuroimaging findings suggest that after psychological trauma biological changes are not restricted to disregulation of neurochemical systems but involve alterations in the cerebral function and structure. Finally, we describe main treatment implications.

Palabras clave : Neurobiología; neurotranmisión; hipotálamo; hipófisis; sistema opioide; neuroquímicos; neuroimágenes; Neurobiology; neurotransmission; hypothalamus; hipophysis; opiate system; neurochemistry; neuroimages.