ABSTRACT
Why some people experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) while others do not remains to be seen, but a recent study suggests that inheriting a shorter version of a single gene appears to predispose people to fear. Using magnetic resonance imaging, Dr. Ahmad R. Hariri and Dr. Daniel R. Weinberger, at the National Institute of Mental Health, established a direct link between a genetic variation and the behavior of a region of the brain called the amygdala, which processes fear (Nagourney, 2002). It appears that genetics, when combined with other factors including environment, past experiences in life, age, support system, feelings of safety, a coexisting psychiatric illness, long-term physical illness, and ability to cope with adverse situations, influence the development of PTSD.
