Autonomic and cortical reactivity in acute and chronic posttraumatic stress

This study investigated attention (P300 amplitude) and orienting (skin conductance amplitude) to auditory tones in a standard oddball task in early trauma-exposed groups (Acute Stress Disorder: ASD) (n = 12) or no ASD (n = 13), compared to individuals with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (n = 17) and non-trauma-exposed controls (n = 17). Individuals with ASD displayed significantly higher SCR and P3 amplitudes to target tones than individuals with PTSD, non-traumatized controls, and traumatized controls. These findings suggest that attention and orienting responses are greater to neutral, task-relevant target tones in ASD than PTSD and traumatized and non-traumatized controls.

► Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) patients have increased autonomic arousal to neutral stimuli.
► ASD patients display greater P300 amplitude to neutral stimuli.
► PTSD patients do not display increased autonomic arousal to neutral stimuli.
► PTSD patients do not display increased P300 amplitudes to neutral stimuli.
► These effects are not accounted for by greater comorbid depression in the PTSD group.