| Dark-Enhanced Startle Responses and Heart Rate Variability in a Traumatized Civilian Sample: Putative Sex-Specific Correlates of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 22286850 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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ObjectiveTrauma is associated with increased risk for anxiety disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). To further understand biologic mechanisms of PTSD, we examined the dark-enhanced startle response, a psychophysiological correlate of anxiety, and heart rate variability (HRV) in traumatized individuals with and without PTSD. The associations of these measures with PTSD may be sex-specific because of their associations with the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, a sexually dimorphic brain structure in the limbic system that is approximately 2.5 times larger in men than in women.MethodsThe study sample (N = 141) was recruited from a highly traumatized civilian population seeking treatment at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Psychophysiological responses during a dark-enhanced startle paradigm task included startle magnitude, assessed by eyeblink reflex, and measures of high-frequency HRV, during light and dark phases of the startle session.ResultsThe startle magnitude was higher during the dark phase than the light phase (mean ± standard error = 98.61 ± 10.68 versus 73.93 ± 8.21 μV, p < .001). PTSD was associated with a greater degree of dark-enhanced startle in women (p = .03) but not in men (p = .38, p interaction = .48). Although HRV measures did not differ between phases, high-frequency HRV was greater in men with PTSD compared with men without PTSD (p = .02).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that the dark-enhanced paradigm provides novel insights into the psychophysiological responses associated with PTSD in traumatized civilian sample. Sex differences in altered parasympathetic and sympathetic function during anxiety regulation tasks may provide further insight into the neurobiological mechanisms of PTSD. |
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Authors:
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Asante Kamkwalala; Seth D Norrholm; James M Poole; Angelo Brown; Sachiko Donley; Erica Duncan; Bekh Bradley; Kerry J Ressler; Tanja Jovanovic |
Publication Detail:
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Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2012-1-27 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Psychosomatic medicine Volume: - ISSN: 1534-7796 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2012 Jan |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2012-1-30 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0376505 Medline TA: Psychosom Med Country: - |
Other Details:
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Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Affiliation:
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Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (A.K., S.D.N., J.M.P., A.B., S.D., E.D., B.B., K.J.R., T.J.), Emory University School of Medicine; Yerkes National Primate Research Center (K.J.R.), Atlanta; and Mental Health Service (S.D.N., E.D., B.B.), Atlanta VA Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia; and Howard Hughes Medical Institute (K.J.R.), Bethesda, Maryland. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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