The well-replicated observation that many people maintain mental health despite exposure to severe psychological or physical adversity has ignited interest in the mechanisms that protect against stress-related mental illness. Focusing on resilience rather than pathophysiology in many ways represents a paradigm shift in clinical-psychological and psychiatric research that has great potential for the development of new prevention and treatment strategies.
The Key Mechanism: Positive Appraisal Style
The framework is applicable to both animal and human research and supports the design and interpretation of translational studies. The theory emphasizes the causal role of stimulus appraisal (evaluation) processes in the generation of emotional responses, including responses to potential stressors. On this basis, it posits that a positive (non-negative) appraisal style is the key mechanism that protects against the detrimental effects of stress and mediates the effects of other known resilience factors.
Appraisal style is shaped by three classes of cognitive processes – positive situation classification, reappraisal, and interference inhibition – that can be investigated at the neural level. By understanding these cognitive processes, researchers can identify specific neural mechanisms that are involved in the development of resilience.
Investigating Resilience at the Neural Level
Researchers have used a variety of techniques to investigate the neural mechanisms involved in resilience. One approach has been to study the neural responses of individuals who have experienced adversity but have not developed mental illness. These studies have identified several brain regions that are involved in resilience, including the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and amygdala.
Another approach has been to study the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive processes that are thought to be involved in resilience. For example, researchers have used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural mechanisms involved in reappraisal, a cognitive process that involves reinterpreting a stressful situation in a more positive light. These studies have identified several brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, that are involved in reappraisal.
Implications for Prevention and Treatment
Understanding the neural mechanisms involved in resilience has important implications for the prevention and treatment of stress-related mental illness. By identifying specific neural mechanisms that are involved in resilience, researchers may be able to develop targeted interventions that enhance these mechanisms and promote resilience.
For example, cognitive-behavioral interventions that focus on promoting positive appraisal styles and enhancing cognitive processes such as reappraisal and interference inhibition may be effective in promoting resilience. In addition, interventions that target specific neural mechanisms involved in resilience, such as the prefrontal cortex, may also be effective.
Prospects for Future Research
The study of resilience is a rapidly evolving field, and there is much to be learned about the mechanisms that underlie resilience. Future research is needed to further refine our understanding of the neural mechanisms involved in resilience, and to develop targeted interventions that enhance these mechanisms. By understanding the neural mechanisms involved in resilience, researchers may be able to develop targeted interventions that enhance these mechanisms and promote resilience.