Desamparo aprendido: processos neurobiológicos e implicações clínicas na psicologia

Abstract

Learned helplessness is a behavioral and neurobiological phenomenon that emerges from exposure to uncontrollable stressors, leading to passivity, hopelessness, and motivational deficits. Initially described through experimental animal models, the concept has been expanded to explain clinical states observed in humans, particularly in conditions such as major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which share a core experience of perceived helplessness. This study aims to integrate neuroscientific findings with the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), analyzing how this approach can contribute to more effective interventions in contexts of learned helplessness. Through a narrative literature review, this paper discusses the main neural circuits involved, including the amygdala, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and raphe nuclei, and highlights the neurochemical dysregulations associated with stress-related conditions. It concludes that, although not equivalent to depression or PTSD, learned helplessness may act as a risk or maintenance mechanism. As a future proposal, in addition to developing practical tools for patients, we suggest investigating the transition between these states: where does learned helplessness end and clinical depression begin?