title: Physiological predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: Studies have assessed relationships between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and physiological reactivity concurrently; fewer have assessed these relationships longitudinally. This study tests concurrent and prospective relationships between physiological reactivity (heart rate and skin conductance) to a monologue procedure and PTSD symptoms in female assault survivors, tested within 1 and 3 months posttrauma. After controlling for initial PTSD and peritraumatic dissociation, 3 measures of increased physiological reactivity to the trauma monologue at 1 month predicted 3-month PTSD reexperiencing severity. Additionally, increased heart rate following trauma and neutral monologues at 1 month was predictive of 3-month numbing symptoms. Implications for the prospective relationship between physiological reactivity to trauma cues and PTSD over time are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Boston University, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Cassidy A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gutner
authors.forename: Suzanne L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pineles
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Margaret R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: Mariann R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Weierich
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Resick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult