Involvement of the dopaminergic pathways in the etiology of posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) appears to have a neurobiological substrate that is, at least partially, distinct from other anxiety and mood disorders. Whereas hypotheses regarding the role of serotoninergic and noradrenergic transmission have been often explored, there is no systematic investigation of a putative dopaminergic diathesis in PTSD. The present review summarizes multiple lines of evidence that point to the involvement of dopamine (DA) in the etiology or maintenance of PTSD. Two theoretical frameworks are being proposed in order to integrate the current knowledge and detect new directions for future research.