Watch video of Dr. Paul W. Ragan, associate professor of psychiatry, and Carrie Jones, assistant professor of pharmacology, speaking March 3.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, is a severe anxiety disorder that occurs in people who have experienced physical or psychological trauma. Triggering events can include experiences like military combat, car accidents, or childhood abuse.

PTSD is common, affecting 8% of Americans at some point in their lives, with higher rates in women than in men, and highest rates in war veterans.

Current treatments offer significant benefit for many people with PTSD, but better options are needed. Advances in drug discovery and psychotherapy may lead to more effective treatments.

The talk was part of “Brainstorm 2011,” a series of free public events about brain research hosted by Vanderbilt University.