Psychophysiological responses in the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans.
In one sample of 104 male Vietnam combat veterans, we found that five heart rate parameters from a psychophysiological assessment could correctly discriminate 75% of the sample into those with PTSD and those without it. Using a stepwise approach, we found adding 10 blood pressure parameters increased discrimination to 80%, while adding five parameters from frontal electromyograms did not increase discrimination. Cross-validation of the heart rate parameters on a new sample of 96 veterans resulted in 83% correct discrimination.
Blanchard
E B
EB
Department of Psychology, State University of New York, Albany.
Kolb
L C
LC
Prins
A
A
D000328:Adult; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004576:Electromyography; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology