Emotion regulation strategies in trauma-related disorders: pathways linking neurobiology and clinical manifestations

Rev Neurosci. 2016 Jun 1;27(4):385-95. doi: 10.1515/revneuro-2015-0045.

Abstract

Emotion regulation impairments with traumatic origins have mainly been studied from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) models by studying cases of adult onset and single-incident trauma exposure. The effects of adverse traumatic experiences, however, go beyond the PTSD. Different authors have proposed that PTSD, borderline personality, dissociative, conversive and somatoform disorders constitute a full spectrum of trauma-related conditions. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the neurobiological findings covering this posttraumatic spectrum is needed in order to develop an all-encompassing model for trauma-related disorders with emotion regulation at its center. The present review has sought to link neurobiology findings concerning cortico-limbic function to the field of emotion regulation. In so doing, trauma-related disorders have been placed in a continuum between under- and over-regulation of affect strategies. Under-regulation of affect was predominant in borderline personality disorder, PTSD with re-experiencing symptoms and positive psychoform and somatoform dissociative symptoms. Over-regulation of affect was more prevalent in somatoform disorders and pathologies characterized by negative psychoform and somatoform symptoms. Throughout this continuum, different combinations between under- and over-regulation of affect strategies were also found.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dissociative Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Emotions / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Neurobiology* / methods
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Somatoform Disorders
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / physiopathology*