This study aimed to examine the relationships between crime exposure and posttraumatic stress symptomatology, and crime exposure and fear of crime. More specifically it set out to establish a possible causal link between crime exposure and posttraumatic stress symptomatology and fear of crime. In addition, it then aimed to identify and explore the possible moderating effect of coping style, (problem-focused, emotion-focused and dysfunctional coping) on the afore-mentioned relationships. The study was conducted on a Johannesburg based, tertiary student population (n = 123) and employed self-report questionnaires to solicit responses which were then subject to statistical analyses. Findings for the relationship between crime exposure and posttraumatic stress symptomatology indicated that increased exposure to crime was predictive of higher posttraumatic stress symptomatology. However a comparison of the relationship between non-crime related traumas and posttraumatic stress symptomatology suggested that crime exposure was not the only predictor of posttraumatic stress symptomatology. Similarly, findings for the relationship between crime exposure and fear of crime indicated that increased exposure to crime was predictive of increased fear of crime levels. Again, however, a comparison of the relationship between non-crime related traumas and fear of crime suggested that crime exposure was not the only predictor of fear of crime. In reference to the possible moderating effects of coping styles on the relationships between crime exposure and posttraumatic stress symptomatology, and crime exposure and fear of crime, no significant moderating effects were found for problem-focused, emotion-focused or dysfunctional coping. Dysfunctional coping was significantly associated with higher levels of traumatic stress symptomatology and fear of crime, but independent of exposure patterns. Visible patterns of relationship with regard to both problem focused and emotion focused coping appeared to be more complex than would be expected based on existing findings in the literature.

INTRODUÇÃO: Apesar dos Inibidores Seletivos da Recaptura da Serotonina (ISRSs) serem a primeira escolha no tratamento do Transtorno de Estresse Pós-Traumático (TEPT) seu mecanismo de ação não é completamente compreendido. Possivelmente, um aumento na resiliência ao estresse esteja envolvido. Como a serotonina (5HT) ajuda a mediar as respostas ao estresse em outros transtornos ansiosos, o paradigma de Depleção de Triptofano Aguda (DTa) foi usado para diminuir a 5HT central em Pacientes com TEPT remitido com ISRSs. MÉTODOS: Dez pacientes com TEPT (diagnosticados pela Mini Entrevista Neuropsiquiátrica Internacional) que tiveram resposta completa com um ISRS (Escala de Impressões Clínicas Globais de Melhora 1-2 por pelo menos 3 meses) foram selecionados para o experimento. Os pacientes foram testados em duas ocasiões diferentes separadas por uma semana nas quais os pacientes receberam uma mistura contendo grandes aminoácidos neutros ou com (Depleção de Triptofano Falsa [DTf]; dia controle) ou sem triptofano (dia DTa). Auto relatos de ansiedade e humor, bem como medidas cardiovasculares, foram obtidos ao longo dos testes. Cinco horas e meia após a ingestão da mistura os pacientes foram re-expostos aos seus traumas através do procedimento de imaginação guiada de Pitman. RESLTADOS: Esses procedimentos provocaram elevados escores nas medidas avaliadas em ambos os dias, com respostas significativamente mais intensas no dia DTa conforme avaliado pelas Escalas Visuais Analógicas (DTa 47,57 [21,75] -v- DTf 20,71 [18,4]; p=0,001), Escala de Trauma de Davidson (29,4 [12,7] -v- 15,7 [7,79]; p=0,001), Inventário de Ansiedade de Spielberger versão Estado (28,9 [11,03] -v- 18,5 [10,13]; p=0,066, e Perfis de Estados de Humor (p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: Esses dados são os primeiros a demonstrar que a depleção de 5HT piora as respostas subjetivas a re-experimentação de memórias traumáticas no TEPT e sugere que o aumento na função da 5HT induzida por ISRSs diminui os sintomas de TEPT, especialmente sob provocação, i.e. 5HT ajuda a mediar a resiliência ao estresse. Além de fornecer insights sobre o como os ISRSs funcionam no TEPT, esses dados também oferecem uma abordagem de potenciais novos tratamentos para esse transtorno / INTRODUCTION: Although Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatments their mechanism of action is unclear, but possibly improvement of stress resilience is involved. As serotonin (5HT) helps regulate stress responses in other anxiety disorders, the acute tryptophan depletion (aTD) technique was used to lower brain 5HT in SSRSs-remitted PTSD patients. METHODS: Ten patients with PTSD (Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview diagnosed) who had made a full recovery on SSRIs (Clinical Global Impressions Improvement Scale 1-2 for at least 3 months) were enrolled in the experiment. Patients were tested on 2 separate occasions a week apart - each session they received a drink containing large neutral amino acids either with (Sham Depletion [SD]; control day) or no tryptophan (aTD day). Self reports of anxiety and mood, as well as cardiovascular measures, were obtained throughout the tests. At 5.5 hours after the drink subjects were reexposed to their trauma using a modification of Pitmans imagery guided method. RESULTS: These procedures provoked elevated ratings on both days, with significantly more marked responses on the aTD day according to Visual Analogue Scales (aTD 47.57 [21.75] -v- SD 20.71 [18.4]; p=0.006), Davidson Trauma Scale (29.4 [12.7] -v- 15.7 [7.79]; p=0.001), Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (28.9 [11.03] -v- 18.5 [10.13]; p=0.066, and Profile of Mood States (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data are the first to show that 5HT depletion worsens the subjective responses to reliving traumatic memories in PTSD and suggest that that SSRI-induced increases in 5HT function restrains PTSD symptoms, especially under provocation, i.e. 5HT helps mediate resilience to stress. As well as giving insights into how SSRIs work in PTSD, these data may also offer a translational approach to potential new treatments for this disorder

La réponse à l’agression est à la fois neuroendocrinienne, neurovégétative et comportementale. Elle implique particulièrement l’amygdale. Celle-ci joue en effet un rôle dans l’anxiété et la peur mais également dans la constitution d’un syndrome de stress post-traumatique (i.e. SSPT). La réponse comportementale à une situation de stress a été peu étudiée chez les patients admis dans un service de Réanimation, alors que des études indiquent qu’une réponse inadaptée de l’axe corticotrope ou du système nerveux autonome serait associée à une surmortalité ou la survenue d’une défaillance multiviscérale. Au décours de leur séjour en réanimation, les patients sont à haut risque de développer des troubles psychologiques (i.e. anxiété, dépression et SSPT) et cognitifs (i.e. affectant préférentiellement la mémoire et les fonctions exécutives) qui ont un impact majeur sur leur qualité de vie et qui seraient proportionnels à la sévérité de leur maladie aiguë et de son retentissement neuro-comportemental. L’objet de notre travail a été d’une part, de décrire quantitativement et qualitativement l’anxiété des patients admis de réanimation et d’en déterminer sa valeur pronostique ; d’autre part, d’étudier le lien entre activation amygdalienne et syndrome post-traumatique dans un modèle murin de sepsis par ligature-ponction caecale (i.e. CLP). Notre étude observationnelle a porté sur 354 patients (Age, 63 ans [49-73] ; Sexe F/H, 137/217) admis dans trois services de réanimation d’Île de France entre Janvier 2014 et Septembre 2016. L’anxiété était en médiane d’intensité modérée, selon l’échelle visuelle analogique (4 [1-6) et le questionnaire STAI (41 [31-53]). La moitié des patients rapportaient se sentir vulnérables (54%) ; considérer leur état grave (67 %) et avoir peur de mourir (45%). Une défaillance d’organe a été observée chez 157 (45%) des patients. Une valeur de STAI ≥ 40 (OR 1,69, 95%CI [1,02-2,84]) était associée à la survenue d’une défaillance d’organe après ajustement sur le score de défaillance d’organe SOFA à J1, la mise en route d’une ventilation mécanique non-invasive (OR 4,93 ; 95%CI [2,9-9,4]) et la gravité d’une pathologie préexistante selon le score Knaus (OC2,01 95%CI [1,21-3,33]) et la peur de mourir (OR 0,55 [0,33-0,92]). Celle-ci était significativement associée à un risque moindre de défaillance parmi les patients ayant une maladie aiguë sévère, définie par un score IGS-2 > 30 (58% vs. 37%). Cette étude indique que l’évaluation de l’anxiété est utile pour estimer le risque d’aggravation des patients de réanimation mais indique également que si son intensité est positivement corrélée à la survenue d’une défaillance, un défaut de perception d’un danger (tel que l’exprimerait la peur de mourir) en augmenterait le risque. Notre étude expérimentale a mis en évidence une activation précoce (i.e. à H6 de la CLP) et transitoire des neurones CAMK-II positif du noyau central de l’amygdale (CeA) et des anomalies tardives (i.e. J15 après CLP) de l’open-field test (test en libre champ) et du Fear-conditionning (test de formation de la mémoire aversive), traduisant respectivement un comportement type anxieux et une hypermémorisation de la peur, qui s’apparenterait à un SSPT. Nous avons procédé à une inhibition pharmacogénétique par transfection virale des neurones CAMKII, qui a entraîné une réduction de l’hyper-mémorisation aversive induite par le sepsis. L’enregistrement électrophysiologique intra-amygadalienne a mis en évidence une activité pro-épileptique ou épileptique chez les souris septiques. L’administration d’un antiépileptique, le levetiracetam au cours des 24 premières heures de la CLP a résulté en une diminution de la mortalité, de l’activation des neurones CAMKII du noyau central de l’amygdale et de l’hyper-mémorisation aversive induites par le sepsis. (...) / Systemic insults trigger neuroendocrine, neurovegetative and behavioural responses. Amygdala is particularly involved in anxiety and fear but also in the generation of post-traumatic stress disorder (i.e. PTSD). Amygdala is part of the limbic system and modulates the neuroendocrine and the autonomous nervous system activity. Behavioural changes to critical illness has been poorly studied in ICU-admited patients, despite studies showing that non-adapted corticotropic axis or autonomic nervous system responses correlate with a higher mortality or organ failures. During their ICU stay, patients are at high risk of developing psychological (e.g. anxiety, depression or PTSD), and cognitive alterations (e.g. memory and executive functions) with a major impact on their long-term quality of life. Such alterations intensity is correlated with the severity of critical illness. Our present work aimed, on the one hand at assessing at ICU admission patients’ anxiety and its prognostic value, and on the other hand, at characterizing the link between amygdalar activation and PTSD in a murine model of caecal ligation and puncture (i.e. CLP). 354 patients were included in our observational study (median age 63 [IQR 49-73], sex 137W/217M), from 3 Ile-De-France ICU between January 2014 and September 2016). Median anxiety was moderate according to both visual scale (4 [1-6]) and STAI questionnaire (43[32-53]). Half of participants declared (54%) feeling vulnerable; considered their state to be severe (67%) and feared to die (45%). One organ failure – mostly neurological, but also the need for mechanical ventilation, dialysis or vasopressive catecholamines during the first 7 days – was present in 157 (45%) patients. A STAI index ≥ 40 (OR 4.93 ; 95% CI[1.02 – 2.84]) was associated with the occurrence of an organ failure, even after adjusting for the day-1 SOFA score, the onset of a mechanical ventilation (OR 4.93, 95CI [2.9 – 9.4]), the Knaus score of prior pathologies severity (OC 2.01, 95CI [1.21 – 3.33]) and fear of death. (OR 0.55 [0.33 -0.92]). The latter significantly associating with a decreased risk of organ failure among patients with a severe acute pathology as defined by a IGS-2 >30 (58% vs. 37%). This study shows that evaluating early anxiety can prove useful in predicting patient aggravation risk in ICU, but also indicates that if its intensity positively predicts the onset of organ failures, the lack of perceived severity (lower fear of death) would also associate with an increased risk of failure. Our experimental study higlighted an early (i.e. 6H post CLP) and transitory activation of Central Amygdala (CeA) CAMK-II positive neurons, and delayed (i.e D15 post CLP) alterations in open field and fear-conditioning tests, respectively indicating an anxious behaviour and fear hypermnesia, both critical aspects of PTSD. Pharmacogenetic inhibition of CAMK-II neurons by viral transduction led to a decrease in aversive sepsis-induced hypermnesia. Administration of Levetiracetam, an antipeileptic drug, during the first 24h post-CLP led to a decrease in sepsis-induced mortality, in CAMK-II CeA neurons activation and in aversive memory. Amygdalar neuronal activation was also associated with microglial morphological alterations, partly prevented by levetiracetam, and reminiscent of alterations seen in septic shock autopsic samples. Our experimental work shows an increased activity in CAMK-II amygdalar neurons during early sepsis, potentially implicated in the onset of sepsis-induced anxiety and PTSD. this constitutes a plausible neuro-anatomical and neuro-biological background to our clinical study showing the prognostic interest of early anxiety assessment in ICU patients, as it positively correlates with both stress intensity and the misperception of danger.

The adverse consequences of posttraumatic stress on quality of life have been well documented. It is, however, possible that it is not the intrusive re-experiencing and hyperarousal posttraumatic stress symptoms that have an impact on quality of life per se, but the inflexible efforts to avoid internal experiences and emotions related to the traumatic event, and the way these emotions are expressed and experienced. Previous research shows that both experiential avoidance and emotion regulation have been found to be etiologically central to the development and maintenance of psychological problems in trauma survivors. The degree to which experiential avoidance and emotion regulation act together as toxic underlying mechanisms to explain the relationship between posttraumatic stress and quality of life is, however, yet to be examined. Quality of life is now regarded as an important outcome variable across a broad range of conditions and problem areas. The quality of life concept has generated a large body of research and yet its assessment has been a challenge for researchers. The WHOQOL-BREF is considered to be one of the few genuine quality of life measures but it has received much criticism, especially regarding the poor psychometric performance of its social relationships domain. The aim of the current thesis was twofold. The first aim involved the revision of the WHOQOL-BREF through the enhancement of the social relationships domain. In Study I 986 ill and healthy individuals from five countries worldwide completed the Pilot Revised WHOQOL-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF-R) along with measures of life satisfaction, anxiety, and depression for the detailed psychometric analysis of the scale. Study I confirmed the limitations of the social relationships domain, and despite its improvement, the performance of the overall scale was found to be poor. In fact, findings from modern and robust techniques challenged the 4-factor structure of the WHOQOL-BREF. Instead, results supported the performance of a 3-factor solution, which led to the development of a psychometrically sound measure. Study II is preceded by a systematic review of the literature investigating experiential avoidance as a mediator in trauma survivors with posttraumatic stress. Ten studies were identified and organised in two categories assessing experiential avoidance as a mediator between: 1) trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress, and 2) posttraumatic stress and maladaptive behaviours. Findings suggest that the development and maintenance of posttraumatic stress symptoms and maladaptive behaviours in the aftermath of trauma can be explained through the use of experiential avoidance. Methodological limitations and future directions for research are discussed. The WHOQOL-BREF-R was then used in Study II, which explored an integrative mediation model whereby experiential avoidance and emotion regulation were tested as mediators in the relationship between posttraumatic stress symptomatology and quality of life in trauma exposed adults. The two mediators were also explored for their overlapping relationship. A total of 360 participants from the community completed self-report measures of posttraumatic stress, experiential avoidance, emotion regulation, and quality of life. With the use of path analysis Study II found experiential avoidance and emotion regulation to be two distinct constructs that together act as an underlying mechanism explaining the impact of posttraumatic stress on quality of life. Alternative mediating models were explored. The current study makes an important contribution in the area of trauma and in the conceptualisation and assessment of quality of life. Findings can be considered as a first step towards an integrative mediation model of toxic mechanisms in trauma and quality of life. Additionally, the favourable psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-BREF-R make it a powerful tool for use in quality of life research.

Após um trauma, características de resiliência protegem o indivíduo de desenvolver o transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) ou outro transtorno mental. O TEPT é um transtorno mental e comportamental, caracterizado por alta morbidade e grandes prejuízos sociais. Resiliência é o processo de negociação, de manejo e de adaptação frente a uma situação de estresse significativo ou trauma. Acredita-se que fatores ambientais e neurobiológicos estejam envolvidos na capacidade de resiliência e no desenvolvimento de TEPT. Método: estudo transversal de casos e controles pareados por sexo e idade. Foram estudados 33 pacientes com TEPT e 33 controles saudáveis que sofreram trauma. Os instrumentos usados foram a Escala de Resiliência, o Questionário de Estilo Defensivo (DSQ), o Questionário de Trauma na Infância (CTQ) e o instrumento Parental Bonding (PBI). As variáveis biológicas estudadas foram cortisol sérico, Interleucina-6 (IL-6) e Interleucina-10 (IL-10) séricas. Resultado: Houve diferença significativa entre os grupos no fator I da escala de resiliência (p=0,019); nos mecanismos de defesas maduras, maiores em resilientes (p<0,001); no abuso emocional (p=0,001) e físico (p=0,003) durante a infância maior em pacientes com TEPT; e em níveis de IL-10 menores em TEPT (p=0,029). Os níveis de IL-6 e cortisol sérico não mostraram diferença significativa. Conclui-se que a resiliência e o trauma na infância parecem ter influência no desfecho de TEPT e que níveis reduzidos de IL-10 em pacientes com TEPT demonstram a alteração do sistema imune nesta patologia. / After a traumatic event, characteristics of resilience protect individuals from developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental conditions. PTSD is a mental and behavioral disorder characterized by high morbidity and significant social impairment. Resilience is the process of negotiating, handling and adapting to a highly stressful situation or trauma. Environmental and neurobiological factors are believed to be involved in the capacity for resilience and the development of PTSD. Method: Cross-sectional study of cases and controls matched for age and sex, consisting of 33 patients with PTSD and 33 healthy controls who experienced trauma. Instruments used were the Resilience Scale, Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI). The biological variables studied were serum cortisol, Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels. Result: There was a significant intergroup difference in factor I of the resilience scale (p=0.019), with higher results in resilient subjects for mature defense mechanisms (p<0.001) and among patients with PTSD for emotional (p=0.001) and physical abuse (p=0.003) during childhood, as well as lower IL-10 levels for PTSD (p=0.029). No significant difference was recorded in serum cortisol and IL-6 levels. It was concluded that resilience and childhood trauma influence the outcome of PTSD and that lower IL-10 levels in patients with PTSD indicate immune system alterations in this pathology.

Violence against women and children is a pervasive challenge across the globe. Research has shown that survivors of interpersonal violence, such as child maltreatment and intimate partner violence, may develop a complex form of post-traumatic stress disorder accompanied by, for example, difficulties in regulating emotions and relating to others. Additional mental health and social problems contribute to survivors' long-term impairment. Therefore, it is imperative that we understand the key elements and processes that facilitate trauma recovery. The majority of research places survivors as individuals at the core of understanding trauma and recovery, which makes it an intrapsychic problem focused on, for example, the individual's cognitive bias, maladaptive interpersonal behaviour, or emotion dysregulation which need repairing, rather than considering appropriately the role of context, external factors and social processes. Thus, trauma recovery may be more complicated. The current study explored key elements and processes of trauma recovery in female adult survivors with a focus on emotional and interpersonal skills, within the narratives of individuals constructing their own recovery within an interpersonal context. Fifteen female adult survivors were recruited from a statutory clinical service and a third-sector community project. Participants were interviewed individually, and data were analysed qualitatively using grounded theory. The study constructed a framework of four key components. Women survivors initially disengaged from feelings, other people and themselves (1), gradually made hidden experiences visible (2) and examined these (3), and eventually reconstructed their reality (4). Although not always a linear process, this framework revealed a transition from self-guided to supported self-management. Women survivors sought out relationships, were impacted by relationships, and these relationships changed the way survivors responded. Thus, female trauma survivors reconstructed abuse, trauma and identity through various supportive others. Similarly, female survivors reframed emotional and interpersonal difficulties and gradually managed these through relationships. Future research as well as theories, practices and policies need to consider the multifaceted and relational nature of interpersonal trauma recovery. Guidelines and practices, for instance, could include community-focused strategies that provide a larger network of support to survivors and, thus, would offer multiple opportunities to experience positive interactions. Equally, mandatory training of health care staff about interpersonal violence and subsequent trauma as well as training in relating positively to survivors would make a real difference.

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No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_Julciney 100117 Juntada (1).pdf: 3403872 bytes, checksum: 28c5845618df3ef9e51842da6dcf5554 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / Projeto Médico de Família de Niterói / Introdução: Apesar do Transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) e do tabagismo serem prevalentes, não há estudos no Brasil sobre a associação entre recaída, cessação do tabagismo e TEPT em comunidades de baixa renda. Objetivos: Avaliar a frequência de recaída na tentativa de abandonar o hábito de fumar em indivíduos com e sem TEPT, bem como analisar os fatores a ela associada. Métodos: Estudo transversal de adultos vinculados ao PMF (Programa Médico de Família) selecionados entre julho de 2006 a dezembro de 2007 conduzido a partir do Estudo CAMELIA (cardio-neuro-metabólico-renal familiar em Niterói). As associações foram estimadas através do modelo de Equações de Estimação Generalizadas. Resultados: O estudo foi representado por uma população de 320 indivíduos que já fumaram pelo menos 100 cigarros em suas vidas, dos quais 20% nunca tentaram parar de fumar, 52,2% eram ex-fumantes e 27,8% eram recidivantes. A prevalência de TEPT foi de 23,8% e dos três grupos de sintomas do TEPT (revivescência, evitação e hiperestimulação) foi de 22,2%, 25% e 20,6% respectivamente. Cor da pele (parda), frequência de consumo de álcool (nunca) e a pontuação PCL-C geral e grupo de sintomas (maior que o percentil 75) mostraram associação univariada estatisticamente significativa (p ≤0,15) com recaída de tabagismo. Sexo (mulheres), cor da pele (branca), IMC (< 25) e depressão (escore BDI > 19) apresentaram associação univariada (p ≤0,15) com TEPT (maior que percentil 75 na pontuação PCL-C geral e grupos de sintomas). As associações entre recaída e PCL-C geral, revivescência e hiperestimulação foram semelhantes para ambos, homem e mulher, cor de pele preta e não preta, e até 5 anos de estudo e 5 ou mais anos de estudo, indicando que não há interação. Para o grupo da evitação, as diferenças foram maiores, apontando para a existência de uma interação para sexo, cor da pele e escolaridade. Nos modelos estatísticos múltiplos testados apenas a recaída e a depressão foram fatores associados de forma significativa ao TEPT. Conclusão: A associação entre a recaída e o TEPT foi confirmada nesta investigação. / Introduction: Although posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and smoking are prevalent, there are no studies in Brazil on the association between relapse, smoking cessation and PTSD in low-income communities. Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of relapse in the attempt to quit smoking in individuals with and without PTSD, as well as to analyze the factors associated with it. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of adults enrolled in the Family Medical Program selected from July 2006 to December 2007, conducted from the CAMELIA Study (cardio-neuro-metabolic-renal family in Niterói). The associations were estimated using the Generalized Estimation Equation model. Results: The study was represented by a population of 320 individuals who had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lives, of whom 20% never tried to quit smoking, 52.2% were ex-smokers and 27.8% were relapsed. The prevalence of PTSD was 23.8% and of the three symptom clusters (re-experiencing, avoidance and hyperarousal) were 22.2%, 25% and 20.6%, respectively. Skin color (brown), frequency of alcohol consumption (never) and overall PCL-C score and symptom clusters (greater than the 75th percentile) showed a statistically significant univariate association (p ≤0.15) with smoking relapse. Gender (women), skin color (white), BMI (<25) and depression (BDI score> 19) had a univariate association (p ≤0.15) with PTSD (greater than 75th percentile in the general PCL-C score and symptom clusters). The associations between relapse and general PCL-C, re-experiencing and hyperarousal were similar for both male and female, skin color black and not black, and up to 5 years of study and 5 or more years of study, indicating that there was no interaction. For the avoidance group, the differences were greater, pointing to the existence of an interaction for sex, skin color and schooling. In multiple, fully-tested models, only relapse and depression were significantly associated with PTSD. Conclusion: The association between relapse and PTSD was confirmed in this investigation.

INTRODUÇÃO: Apesar dos Inibidores Seletivos da Recaptura da Serotonina (ISRSs) serem a primeira escolha no tratamento do Transtorno de Estresse Pós-Traumático (TEPT) seu mecanismo de ação não é completamente compreendido. Possivelmente, um aumento na resiliência ao estresse esteja envolvido. Como a serotonina (5HT) ajuda a mediar as respostas ao estresse em outros transtornos ansiosos, o paradigma de Depleção de Triptofano Aguda (DTa) foi usado para diminuir a 5HT central em Pacientes com TEPT remitido com ISRSs. MÉTODOS: Dez pacientes com TEPT (diagnosticados pela Mini Entrevista Neuropsiquiátrica Internacional) que tiveram resposta completa com um ISRS (Escala de Impressões Clínicas Globais de Melhora 1-2 por pelo menos 3 meses) foram selecionados para o experimento. Os pacientes foram testados em duas ocasiões diferentes separadas por uma semana nas quais os pacientes receberam uma mistura contendo grandes aminoácidos neutros ou com (Depleção de Triptofano Falsa [DTf]; dia controle) ou sem triptofano (dia DTa). Auto relatos de ansiedade e humor, bem como medidas cardiovasculares, foram obtidos ao longo dos testes. Cinco horas e meia após a ingestão da mistura os pacientes foram re-expostos aos seus traumas através do procedimento de imaginação guiada de Pitman. RESLTADOS: Esses procedimentos provocaram elevados escores nas medidas avaliadas em ambos os dias, com respostas significativamente mais intensas no dia DTa conforme avaliado pelas Escalas Visuais Analógicas (DTa 47,57 [21,75] -v- DTf 20,71 [18,4]; p=0,001), Escala de Trauma de Davidson (29,4 [12,7] -v- 15,7 [7,79]; p=0,001), Inventário de Ansiedade de Spielberger versão Estado (28,9 [11,03] -v- 18,5 [10,13]; p=0,066, e Perfis de Estados de Humor (p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: Esses dados são os primeiros a demonstrar que a depleção de 5HT piora as respostas subjetivas a re-experimentação de memórias traumáticas no TEPT e sugere que o aumento na função da 5HT induzida por ISRSs diminui os sintomas de TEPT, especialmente sob provocação, i.e. 5HT ajuda a mediar a resiliência ao estresse. Além de fornecer insights sobre o como os ISRSs funcionam no TEPT, esses dados também oferecem uma abordagem de potenciais novos tratamentos para esse transtorno / INTRODUCTION: Although Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first-line Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatments their mechanism of action is unclear, but possibly improvement of stress resilience is involved. As serotonin (5HT) helps regulate stress responses in other anxiety disorders, the acute tryptophan depletion (aTD) technique was used to lower brain 5HT in SSRSs-remitted PTSD patients. METHODS: Ten patients with PTSD (Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview diagnosed) who had made a full recovery on SSRIs (Clinical Global Impressions Improvement Scale 1-2 for at least 3 months) were enrolled in the experiment. Patients were tested on 2 separate occasions a week apart - each session they received a drink containing large neutral amino acids either with (Sham Depletion [SD]; control day) or no tryptophan (aTD day). Self reports of anxiety and mood, as well as cardiovascular measures, were obtained throughout the tests. At 5.5 hours after the drink subjects were reexposed to their trauma using a modification of Pitmans imagery guided method. RESULTS: These procedures provoked elevated ratings on both days, with significantly more marked responses on the aTD day according to Visual Analogue Scales (aTD 47.57 [21.75] -v- SD 20.71 [18.4]; p=0.006), Davidson Trauma Scale (29.4 [12.7] -v- 15.7 [7.79]; p=0.001), Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (28.9 [11.03] -v- 18.5 [10.13]; p=0.066, and Profile of Mood States (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data are the first to show that 5HT depletion worsens the subjective responses to reliving traumatic memories in PTSD and suggest that that SSRI-induced increases in 5HT function restrains PTSD symptoms, especially under provocation, i.e. 5HT helps mediate resilience to stress. As well as giving insights into how SSRIs work in PTSD, these data may also offer a translational approach to potential new treatments for this disorder

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