Amnesia, neuroendocrine levels and PTSD in motor vehicle accident victims.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the initial neuroendocrine responses and subsequent PTSD symptomatology among amnesic and non-amnesic victims of motor vehicle accidents. It was hypothesized that amnesic patients would be less likely to meet PTSD criteria at 1 month follow-up and would display lower catechalomine levels and higher basal cortisol than non-amnesics.


METHODS
Fifteen-hour urinary hormone samples were collected from 70 MVA victims upon hospital admission. Participants were assessed for PTSD symptomatology 1 month later.


RESULTS
Amnesic patients displayed lower NE/cortisol ratios than non-amnesics, were less likely than non-amnesics to develop PTSD, and displayed fewer PTSD symptoms than non-amnesics.


CONCLUSIONS
Amnesics may physiologically experience a motor vehicle accident differently from non-amnesics and have lower subsequent PTSD incidence. These results provide partial support for the hypothesis that amnesia for a traumatic event can serve as a buffering function in the development of subsequent PTSD among MVA victims.
Flesher
M R
MR
Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
Delahanty
D L
DL
Raimonde
A J
AJ
Spoonster
E
E
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000647:Amnesia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000652:urine; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000652:urine; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000652:urine*; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine
D002395:Catecholamines; D006854:Hydrocortisone