Skin conductance response during laboratory stress in combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.
OBJECTIVE
The primary objective was to assess skin conductance response (SCR) to a laboratory stressor in combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to controls. The secondary objective was to evaluate the relationship between SCR and PTSD symptom clusters.


METHODS
15 combat/ PTSD, 15 combat/no PTSD, 15 no combat/no PTSD veterans had their SCR recording during aversive pictures from the International Affective Picture Scale.


RESULTS
The groups had similar demographics and medical history (all p>.05). SCR was different between groups (F(2,42) = 4.34,p=.02). The combat/PTSD group had the highest response compared to both control groups. Numbing-avoiding was predictive of SCR (F(1,42)=12.72,p=.001), while re-experiencing and hyper-arousal were not (p's>.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased SCR in the PTSD group validates previous studies. Numbing-avoiding PTSD cluster scores correlated with SCR values. These findings support current PTSD therapies that reduce avoidance behaviors.
Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
Helané
H
Wahbeh
Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.
Barry
B
Oken