Page 133 - GHES-3-2

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
The impact of PTSD on memory and cognition

A devastating earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter Psychological studies based on memory and PTSD
scale struck the northern areas of Pakistan at 08:50:38 on suggest that sufferers experience disturbing memories, have
October 08, 2005 (Mancuso et al., 2008). The scale of the bad dreams about the triggering event, and are immensely
earthquake was so massive that it distorted mountains, emotionally affected by their ordeal (Chung, 2001; Leeson
transformed river paths, and eradicated all villages in the et al., 2008; Liberzon & Martis, 2006; Mellman et al., 2001)
affected areas. Approximately 3.3 million people were They also exhibit attention problems (e.g., the inability
rendered homeless after the earthquake. According to to focus), hyperarousal, hypervigilance, evasion, startled
UN reports, more than 8 million individuals were directly reactions, and feel worse when they have disturbing
influenced by the earthquake, which caused damage worth memories or encounter triggers (Brewin, 1998; Shin et al.,
300 billion Pakistan Rupees. Government records indicate 2004). Existing studies on the neural correlates of memory
that more than 73,000 individuals died and more than impairment arising from disturbing experiences such
135,000 people were injured but some sources claim that as earthquakes have proposed that the damage could be
fatalities and injuries were actually much higher (Mancuso caused by the neuroanatomical modification of certain
et al., 2008). limbic brain areas (e.g., amygdala) and the limbic cortex.
Some studies have suggested that individuals who suffer
It was acknowledged that PTSD rates changed after from PTSD display problems in the prefrontal cortex (Shin
the devastation, but no official published study exists on et al., 2004). Several studies have recognized instantaneous
the occurrence of PTSD in its aftermath. Professor Mufti memory mutilations apropos optical tasks in individuals
in Balkot conducted an unpublished study, which claims who suffer from PTSD. A less significant hippocampal
that 51% of patients receiving care from mental health quantity has also been noted in PTSD sufferers. The limbic
professionals appeared to fit the established criteria for system is responsible for several essential neurological
the diagnosis of PTSD. Previous studies on PTSD victims occupations, of which the monitoring of emotions
have asserted that this condition can result in unremitting is paramount. This structural group comprises the
psychopathology if it is ignored, and cause functional and hippocampus, fornix cingulate cortex, amygdala, septum,
memory-related disorders. (Henson et al., 1999; Kupfer and mammillary bodies (Bonne et al., 2008; Shin et al.,
et al., 2002; Lanius et al., 2001; Seddigh et al., 2005; 2004). These regions begin to reduce in size due to the
Schweizer & Malm, 2003). forceful downpour of the corticotropic chemicals that enter
This study utilized the Writing for Recovery Manual areas of the brain that monitor emotions (the amygdala,
designed specifically to help adolescents process traumatic hypothalamus, pituitary, and thalamus) (Bonne et al.,
experiences. The efficacy of structured writing is well- 2008; Shin et al., 2004). Hence, certain studies suggest that
documented in the context of recovering from disaster and PTSD sufferers have a smaller hippocampus. Some new
conflict. studies have also indicated that such neurological changes
may be heritable (Bonne et al., 2008).
An ordeal such as the Pakistan earthquake can instigate
ongoing transformations in brain chemistry (Yehuda & The autonomic system is affected by sympathetic and
McFarlane, 1995). Neuropsychological, neuropsychiatric, parasympathetic activation; the behavioral system is
and neurological indications lead to despair, bad temper, and affected by advantageous or disadvantageous behavior or
weak cognitive abilities due to the effects of such disasters approach; and the endocrine system is affected by hormones
on different enzymes in the nervous system. Severe anxiety and chemicals. PTSD sufferers experience a forced overflow
assists ongoing modifications in cholinergic gene expression of chemicals triggered by returning images and emotions
(Gray, 1999). Initially, bodily reactions to challenges related to the disturbing event (Smith et al., 2006; Basoglu
instigate allostasis, which launches a multifaceted adaptive et al., 2000). Individual input pathways are thus compelled
passageway. This reaction is subsequently disrupted by the to blend into one collective input pathway, supplying both
sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic pituitary thalami with matching data (Smith et al., 2006).
adrenal axis (Goenjian et al., 2003). Catecholamines are The present analysis included correlation coefficients
unconfined from the nerves and adrenal medulla throughout and regression equations to evaluate the relationships
the initiation phase. They guide the emission of corticotropin between PTSD symptoms and memory functions. Relevant
(or corticotropes) in the pituitary (Gray, 1999). Inactivation scatterplots and regression equations are presented to
returns this procedure to the baseline point of cortisol and substantiate the observed correlations. The analysis includes
catecholamine secretion. Unproductive inactivation forces correlation coefficients and regression equations to evaluate
the system to accumulate stress hormones, resulting in relationships between PTSD symptoms and memory
allostatic load and instigating pathophysiologic effects that function. Relevant scatterplots and regression equations
generate PTSD (Jatzko et al., 2006; Adamec et al., 2007). are presented to substantiate observed correlations,

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 125 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.5121