Physiological correlates of childhood abuse: chronic hyperarousal in PTSD, depression, and irritable bowel syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: During the past 10 years, researchers have documented how trauma--especially severe trauma--can alter the functioning of the brain. In some cases, these alterations create a state of chronic hyperarousal. The present review serves as an introduction to this research.

FINDINGS: Persons who have experienced traumatic events are often "primed" to over-react to subsequent stressors, making them more vulnerable to these events.

CONCLUSION: Chronic hyperarousal underlies three common and often co-occurring sequelae of childhood abuse: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and irritable bowel syndrome. Knowledge of these physiological correlates can affect treatment decisions as well as our theories about the mechanisms underlying the development of symptoms.