By David Nield, Science Alert, December 21, 2019
Nearly a quarter of people who experience severe trauma go on to develop PTSD (or post-traumatic stress disorder), and a new study could help doctors better understand how one leads to the other. In time, this might lead to improved treatments, too.
As a type of anxiety disorder, PTSD comprises four main groups of symptoms, which can include flashbacks and physical reactions to them, heightened anxiety, emotional numbness, and avoiding anything that is associated with the traumatic event.
The new research indicates that PTSD develops along two separate tracks: one involving fear conditioning and intrusive thoughts, and one involving symptoms associated with depression.
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