title: Brainstem evoked potentials in three groups of prisoners after release from detention camp.
abstract: Brainstem evoked potentials (BAEPs) were determined in three groups of male prisoners of war (POWs) released from detention camps and a control group. The first group comprised 21 POWs in whom BAEPs were determined 10-60 days after release (group I). The second group comprised 24 POWs in whom BAEPs were determined 6-9 months after release (group II), and the third group comprised 22 POWs in whom BAEPs were determined 12-18 months after release (group III). The control group comprised 32 subjects. The following changes were found in relation to the control group: in group I significantly longer interpeak latencies (IPLs) P1-P3; in group II significantly longer IPLs P1-P3 and P3-P5; and in group III significantly longer IPLs P1-P3. The subjective symptomatology of the POWs and the results of a routine examination indicate subclinical functional changes of the central nervous system, reflecting the dynamics of these changes. It is suggested that the basis of these changes may be a demyelinization intrathecal process, which occurred as a result of immunological changes during prolonged and intensive post-traumatic stress syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vrca
mesh_terms: D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017523:Croatia; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016057:Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D000159:Vestibulocochlear Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D014857:Warfare