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It is not completely understood what causes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, more is being learned about how changes in the brain after trauma contribute to this disorder. Research has revealed that people with PTSD experience several altered brain mechanisms. This causes abnormalities in brain chemicals that mediate coping behavior, learning and memory, leading to symptoms of PTSD.
Recent research into causes of PTSD has focused on the specific brain areas involved in anxiety and fear, which are important for understanding anxiety disorders such as PTSD. Findings suggest that different anxiety disorders may be associated with abnormal activation of the amygdala, a small structure deep inside the brain which controls the fear response to deal with danger.
It has been shown that the hippocampus, another area in the brain that encodes information into memories and helps process threatening or traumatic stimuli, is often smaller in patients who have experienced severe stress through traumas such as child abuse or military combat. The smaller hippocampus may be responsible for some symptoms associated with PTSD, including flashbacks and reduced memory.
Additionally, people with PTSD tend to have abnormal regulation of stress hormones including natural opiates, cortisol and norepinephrine.
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America (ADAA) lists three major types of stress that usually cause PTSD. They are:
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The threat of death or serious injury to an individual
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Learning about the death, near death or serious injury of a family member or other loved one
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Witnessing the death, near death or serious injury of another person
People who are exposed to multiple traumas, rape or trauma early in life are at greater risk for suffering from PTSD. In addition, some forms of trauma are especially likely to trigger PTSD. For example, more than half of people exposed to mass violence are likely to develop the disorder, according to the ADAA.
Other factors that may increase the risk of developing PTSD include:
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History of depression or other emotional disorder
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History of physical or sexual abuse
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Early separation from parents (e.g., orphan or losing one parent to death)
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History of substance abuse
There is some evidence that PTSD may have a genetic component and that people may be more susceptible to the disorder if there is a family history of PTSD. This genetic link may help explain why some people who experience substantial trauma develop PTSD and others do not. | 
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