The influence of early stress on development and the brain with psychogenic amnesia as an example

Many mental health problems share psychopathophysiological processes that start as subjective discomfort followed by enhanced neurovulnerability, i.e. by an abnormal sensitivity or reactivity of the central nervous system. Enduring early childhood, intimate and responsive care-taking constitute the most important prerequisite for properly experiencing and processing stress. Early, intense psychosocial stress may induce increased vulnerability on the neural level, and consequently also on the behavioral level, resulting in the subsequent development of functional affective and cognitive disturbances. Intracellular, biochemical, neurophysiological and psychological or behavioural and communicative functions may be compromised. Neurovulnerability plays a key role in the precipitation or exacerbation of both psychological and somatic illnesses.