Psychological trauma and physical health: A psychoneuroimmunology approach to etiology of negative health effects and possible interventions.

People who have experienced traumatic events have higher rates than the general population of a wide range of serious and life-threatening illnesses including cardio-vascular disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders, and cancer. An important ques-tion, for both researchers and clinicians, is why this occurs. Researchers have discov-ered that traumatic events dysregulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system. More recently, research from the field of psychoneuro-immunology (PNI) suggests that traumatic life events can lead to health problems through dysregulation of another key system: the inflammatory response. Prior trauma “primes ” the inflammatory response system so that it reacts more rapidly to subsequent life stressors. Elevated inflammation has an etiologic role in many chronic illnesses. Recent PNI studies also suggest some interventions that can serve as adjuncts to traditional trauma treatment. These treatments include long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, exercise, and sleep interventions. Each of these interventions downregulates inflam-mation, which will likely halt the progression to chronic disease for some trauma survivors.