Understanding resilience

TLDR

Resilience is the capacity to adapt successfully to stress and adversity, yet most people remain free from psychiatric disorders despite exposure to traumatic events, and understanding these protective factors may enable new interventions. The study aims to deepen understanding of factors that promote successful adaptation and resistance to stress. The review examines genetic, epigenetic, developmental, psychosocial, neurochemical, and neural circuit contributors to resilience.

Abstract

Resilience is the ability to adapt successfully in the face of stress and adversity. Stressful life events, trauma, and chronic adversity can have a substantial impact on brain function and structure, and can result in the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and other psychiatric disorders. However, most individuals do not develop such illnesses after experiencing stressful life events, and are thus thought to be resilient. Resilience as successful adaptation relies on effective responses to environmental challenges and ultimate resistance to the deleterious effects of stress, therefore a greater understanding of the factors that promote such effects is of great relevance. This review focuses on recent findings regarding genetic, epigenetic, developmental, psychosocial, and neurochemical factors that are considered essential contributors to the development of resilience. Neural circuits and pathways involved in mediating resilience are also discussed. The growing understanding of resilience factors will hopefully lead to the development of new pharmacological and psychological interventions for enhancing resilience and mitigating the untoward consequences.