The Neurobiological Impact of Psychological Trauma: The HPA-Axis (Counselor Toolbox Podcast Episode 112)
Addiction and Co-Occurring Disorders Part 2: Physiology of Addiction and Mental Health Issues (Counselor Toolbox Podcast Episode 111)  Introduction to Neurobiology: Dopamine, GABA, Serotonin, Acetylcholine (Counselor Toolbox Podcast Episode 007)

Based in part on:  

• J. Douglas Bremner.  Traumatic stress: effects on the brain  Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2006 Dec; 8(4): 445-461.
• Jonathan E. Sherin. Post-traumatic stress disorder: the neurobiological impact of psychological trauma.  Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2011 Sep; 13(3): 263-278.
• Neurology and Trauma: Impact and Implications. Damien A. Dowd and Jocelyn Proul. https://umanitoba.ca/centres/resolve/media/Neurology_and_Trauma_Research_Summary.pdf
• The Neurobiological Impact of Psychological Trauma: The HPA-Axis (Counselor Toolbox Podcast)
• Addiction and Co-Occurring Disorders Part 2: Physiology of Addiction and Mental Health Issues (Counselor Toolbox Podcast)
• Introduction to Neurobiology: Dopamine, GABA, Serotonin, Acetylcholine (Counselor Toolbox Podcast)

Objectives

• Examine the effects of traumatic stress
• Learn about normal brain development across the lifespan
• Explore the neurobiology of PTSD
• Highlight the changes in cognition and brain structure associated with PTSD
• Identify crucial components to effective PTSD treatment
• Examine the effects of pharmacotherapy on brain function
• Learn about the function hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the stress response systems, and abnormalities in the HPA axis in persons with PTSD
• Identify specific neurochemicals implicated in the development of PTSD including chatecholamines, serotonin, amino acids (specifically GABA) and peptides.