Why won't the brain let go of trauma?

Researchers believe that they have decoded the mechanism that engraves trauma in the brain.

Everybody deals with trauma differently and some can seemingly get over upsetting incidents, while others feel consumed by them.

A team from the Institute for Molecular Psychiatry at the University of Bonn now claims that this is because of a molecular mechanism.

Researchers identified that dynorphin plays an important role in weakening anxiety, and those that do not produce enough are more likely to hold on to traumatic events.

Dynorphin is a peptide normally produced in the body and is classified as an endorphin. The body produces the peptide as a response to stress or pain.

In a mouse study, scientists gave subjects an electric shock and observed that those with normal levels of dynorphin got rid of their anxiety much quicker.

It was found that the discovery was also applicable to humans, indicating a possible new therapeutic target for treating those with anxiety and stress disorders.

Read about support and personalised care at Barchester care homes for anyone with mental health concerns.