Stress Response Modulation Underlying the Psychobiology of Resilience

Author: Lynnette A Averill, Christopher L Averill, Benjamin Kelmendi, Chadi G Abdallah, Steven M Southwick
Affiliation:
1 Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD - Clinical Neurosciences Division, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 950 Campbell Avenue, 151E, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA. lynnette.averill@yale.edu.
2 Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George Street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT, USA. lynnette.averill@yale.edu.
3 Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD - Clinical Neurosciences Division, Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, 950 Campbell Avenue, 151E, West Haven, CT, 06516, USA.
4 Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 George Street, Suite 901, New Haven, CT, USA.
Conference/Journal: Current psychiatry reports
Date published: 03/28/2018
Other: Volume ID: 20 , Issue ID: 4 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1007/s11920-018-0887-x. , Word Count: 157


PMID: 29594808 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-018-0887-x

Abstract
Purpose of review: This review focuses on the relationship between resilience and the ability to effectively modulate the stress response. Neurobiological and behavioral responses to stress are highly variable. Exposure to a similar stressor can lead to heterogeneous outcomes-manifesting psychopathology in one individual, but having minimal effect, or even enhancing resilience, in another. We highlight aspects of stress response modulation related to early life development and epigenetics, selected neurobiological and neurochemical systems, and a number of emotional, cognitive, psychosocial, and behavioral factors important in resilience. We also briefly discuss interventions with potential to build and promote resilience.

Recent findings: Throughout this review, we include evidence from recent preclinical and clinical studies relevant to the psychobiology of resilient stress response modulation. Effective modulation of the stress response is an essential component of resilience and is dependent on a complex interplay of neurobiological and behavioral factors.

Keywords: Intervention; Neurobiology; Resilience; Stress; Trauma.

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