Repeated unpredictable stress and social isolation induce chronic HPA axis dysfunction and persistent abnormal fear memory.

The lack of progress in the psychopharmacological treatment of stress-related disorders such as PTSD is an ongoing crisis due to its negative socioeconomic implications. Current PTSD pharmacotherapy relies on a few FDA approved medications used primarily for depression which offer only symptomatic relief and show limited efficacy. As the population of PTSD patients is growing, the identification of effective etiology-based treatments for the condition is a high priority.

Impact of Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury on Behavioral and Hippocampal Deficits in a Mouse Model of Chronic Stress.

Clinical studies examining the interaction between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stress-related disorders (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder) are often complicated by methodological constraints, such as heterogeneity in injury type and severity, time post-trauma, and predisposing risk factors.