Induced arousal and reexperiencing in acute stress disorder

This study investigated the relationship of hyperarousal and intrusive symptoms in acute stress disorder (ASD). Civilian trauma survivors with ASD (n = 18) and without ASD (n = 14) completed a hyperventilation provocation test (HVPT) and then completed the Physical Reactions Scale. All participants provided a narrative describing their hyperventilation experience that was audiotaped and independently coded. Individuals with ASD reported greater numbers of intrusive memories and reported greater distress than non-ASD participants. More ASD than non-ASD participants experienced a flashback-type reaction during the hyperventilation. Intrusive symptoms were significantly correlated with elevated arousal following the HVPT. The findings provide evidence that reexperiencing is directly associated with elevated states of arousal.