Extinction learning before trauma and subsequent posttraumatic stress.
OBJECTIVE
Fear conditioning theories propose that persistent stress reactions may occur as a result of impaired extinction learning, and a poor capacity for extinction learning may predispose some individuals to posttraumatic stress disorder development. This study indexed the extent to which deficits in extinction learning before trauma exposure are a risk factor for persistent posttraumatic stress after trauma exposure.


METHODS
Eighty-four firefighters were assessed during cadet training (before trauma) and 70 were reassessed within 24 months of commencing active firefighting duties (after trauma). Measures of posttraumatic stress were used before and after trauma exposure. In addition, skin conductance and corrugator electromyogram (EMG) responses were obtained during fear conditioning and extinction paradigms before trauma exposure.


RESULTS
Reduced extinction of an aversively conditioned corrugator EMG response pretrauma predicted 31% of the variance in posttraumatic stress severity.


CONCLUSIONS
This result provides preliminary support for reduced extinction of a conditioned emotional response as a vulnerability factor for posttraumatic stress.
Guthrie
Rachel M
RM
School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia.
Bryant
Richard A
RA
D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005108:Extinction, Psychological / Q000502:physiology; D005390:Fires; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018635:Rescue Work; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000523:psychology*