June 5, 2024

Sydney Pastor

11th Grade

Pine Crest High School

Incidences of PTSD in the minds of American adults have increased significantly within the past years, with about 3% of the adult population suffering from PTSD-related symptoms. These symptoms often include experiencing event flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety stemming from pervasive past traumas (Bison et al., 2015). 

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of this disorder in the minds of those all over the nation. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, also referred to as PTSD, is a mental disorder that develops after exposure to exceptionally threatening or horrifying events (Bison et al., 2015). According to researcher Liana Zanette and colleagues at the Department of Biology at Western University, PTSD-like changes in the brain and behavior are evolutionary adaptations that entail the cost of increased hypervigilance through the avoidance of trauma-related cues. These evolutionary adaptations, while aiming to promote the probability of survival, can hinder the survival of organisms due to the volatility of their symptoms, increasing the likelihood of mental health issues for those who suffer from it. 

A study conducted by researcher Liana Zanette and colleagues discovered that exposure to a traumatic event results in increased neuronal activity in the amygdala and hippocampus, which are both associated with stress and emotion regulation. The primary purpose of this Western University study was to determine whether PTSD is an evolutionary adaptation or an unnatural phenomenon by exposing black-capped chickadees to various predator vocalizations and tracking their responses. This study determined that not only is PTSD a naturally occurring phenomenon, but also that its symptoms can persist within organisms for days following initial exposure to a traumatic event. After the chickadees were faced with the initial trauma of a predator vocalization, it was found that the chickadees’ symptoms were exacerbated seven days following the exposure (Zanetee, et al, 2019). The conclusions of this study can be applied to help better the existing treatments that currently exist for PTSD that currently only exist for an individual taking SSRI medications and/or going to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).