Citation

Bremner JD. Child Adolesc. Psychiatr. Clin. N. Am. 2003; 12(2): 271-292.

Affiliation

Departments of Psychiatry and Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1256 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA 30306, USA. jdbremn@emory.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12725012

Abstract

Early stress is associated with long-term alterations in brain circuits and systems that mediate the stress response. Early stressors have lasting effects on the HPA axis and norepinephrine systems. Other brain systems that are involved include benzodiazepine, opiate, dopaminergic, and various neuropeptide systems. These neurochemical systems modulate function in brain regions, including the hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex. Long-term alterations in these brain regions are hypothesized to play a role in the maintenance of PTSD, depression, and other psychiatric symptoms after childhood abuse.

Language: en