| Abstract [eng] |
Traumatic events, which pose a threat to person’s life or health, cause serious consequences. From old times it is known about the outcome of traumatic war experience to the soldiers, although there were different opinions of its origin. Though there are less studies done about civilians, psychological damage caused to people during war is unquestionable. Not all of them develop mental disorders, but prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder is quite high, especially in the group of war veterans. Examining the formation of a traumatic experience and its influence on the development of post-traumatic stress disorder, the importance of neurobiological, social and psychological factors, such as attachment style, cognitive appraisal and coping strategies, as well as the objective characteristics of the traumatic event, becomes evident. By understanding responses to a traumatic experience, it is possible to identify risk groups for post-traumatic stress disorder, alter the factors influencing its occurrence and search for new treatment options. This review consists of a brief history of traumatic experience, review of reaction to stress, results from various studies on the development of traumatic experience and post-traumatic stress disorder, neurobiological changes and the influence of psychosocial factors. Changes in the most important structures involved in stress and emotion regulation and neuroendocrine system are described. Furthermore, it reviews different treatment options such as psychotherapy and pharmacological treatment, and their significance. |
