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Injury Increases the Risk for PTSD: An Examination of Potential Neurobiological and Psychological Mediators

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Danny Koren ,
Deborah Hemel  and
Ehud Klein
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Abstract

A growing number of common traumatic events involve both physical and emotional injuries. In contrast to previously held beliefs, the rapidly growing body of literature shows quite convincingly that physical injury, over and above exposure to the traumatic event itself, increases rather than decreases the risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A pertinent question becomes how bodily injury contributes to the risk of developing PTSD. In this article, we review contemporary findings regarding the neurobiological and psychological mechanisms by which bodily injury may augment or independently contribute to chronic posttraumatic stress. In addition, we propose three theoretical pathways through which physical injury can increase the risk for PTSD. These pathways are: additive, unique, and recovery impeding. Finally, we highlight unresolved issues pertaining to each one of these pathways and propose directions for future research to address them.

Type
Review Articles
Information
CNS Spectrums , Volume 11 , Issue 8 , August 2006 , pp. 616 - 624
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2006

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