Changes in trauma-potentiated startle with treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder in combat Veterans.
Emotional Processing Theory proposes that habituation to trauma-related stimuli is an essential component of PTSD treatment. However, the mechanisms underlying treatment-related habituation are not well understood. We examined one psychophysiological measure that holds potential for elucidating the biological processes involved in treatment response: trauma-potentiated startle response. Seventeen OEF/OIF combat Veterans participated in the study and completed three assessments using a trauma-potentiated startle paradigm over PTSD treatment. Results revealed different patterns of trauma-potentiated startle across treatment for responders and nonresponders, but no differences in within task habituation. Responders showed an increase followed by a decrease in trauma-potentiated startle, whereas nonresponders showed a relatively flat response profile. Results suggested that PTSD patients who engage with emotional content as demonstrated by greater startle reactivity may be more likely to respond to PTSD treatment. Furthermore, trauma-potentiated startle shows promise as an objective measure of psychophysiological responses involved in PTSD recovery.
Minneapolis VA Medical Center, United States. Electronic address: Elizabeth.Robison-Andrew@va.gov.
E Jenna
EJ
Robison-Andrew
PTSD Clinical Team, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, United States.
Elizabeth R
ER
Duval
PTSD Clinical Team, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, United States.
C Beau
CB
Nelson
PTSD Clinical Team, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, United States.
Aileen
A
Echiverri-Cohen
PTSD Clinical Team, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, United States.
Nicholas
N
Giardino
PTSD Clinical Team, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, United States.
Andrew
A
Defever
Department of Psychiatry, Emory University, United States.
Seth D
SD
Norrholm
Department of Psychiatry, Emory University, United States.
Tanja
T
Jovanovic
Department of Psychiatry, Emory University, United States.
Barbara O
BO
Rothbaum
PTSD Clinical Team, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, United States.
Israel
I
Liberzon
PTSD Clinical Team, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, United States.
Sheila A M
SA
Rauch
D000328:Adult; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000502:physiology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
CBT; Combat; Exposure therapy; PTSD; Trauma; Treatment; Veteran