Neurochemical, Neurocircuitry, and Psychopathological Mechanisms of PTSD: Emerging Pharmacotherapies and Clinical Perspectives.
ACS chemical neuroscience – June 10, 2025
Source: PubMed
Summary
Brain chemistry offers new hope for PTSD treatment. Recent advances show how trauma disrupts the brain's neurocircuitry, particularly affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and serotonin levels. Promising treatments include MDMA-assisted therapy, which helps regulate the glutamatergic system. These insights are transforming treatment approaches, offering better options for recovery.
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric condition triggered by exposure to traumatic events, with complex neurobiological anomalies that remain incompletely understood. This review aims to comprehensively explore the neurocircuitry, neurochemical dysregulation, and emerging pharmacological targets associated with PTSD, offering a consolidated framework for developing more effective treatments. Particular emphasis is employed on the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, monoamines, glutamate, GABAergic, and the orexinergic system, as well as emerging therapeutic agents such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), ketamine, suvorexant, and cannabinoid modulators. Psychotherapeutic approaches including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and prolonged exposure therapy are also discussed in the context of their neurobiological effects. Articles were identified through a structured search in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, focusing on English-language publications from 1950 to 2025. Inclusion criteria encompassed original research, clinical trials, and reviews relevant to PTSD mechanisms and treatment. By integrating recent findings, this review advances the understanding of PTSD pathophysiology and highlights potential avenues for targeted, personalized therapies, thereby contributing to clinical and translational research in neuropsychiatry.