Itʼs about Time. Time-dependent Sensitization: a Primitive Memory-Enhancing Defense Process Involved in the Development and Treatment of Disease

Time-dependent sensitization refers to the ability of single or acute exposure to drugs and nondrug stressors to induce physiological and behavioral changes that strengthen with the passage of time. It is involved in the development of numerous disorders and also provides a novel means of treating chronic illnesses. This paper explores when and why it might have evolved, Curr Opin Psychiatry 12:721-726. (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.