A Prospective Assessment of Auditory Startle Alterations in Rape and Physical Assault Survivors

Michael G. Griffin

doi:10.1002/jts.20300

A Prospective Assessment of Auditory Startle Alterations in Rape and Physical Assault Survivors

Michael G. Griffin

University of Missouri-St. Louis

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This study used a prospective design to investigate startle reactivity following trauma exposure. Startle response was evaluated using loud tones during which measures of eyeblink electromyogram (EMG) and heart rate (HR) were collected. Participants were 40 female sexual or physical assault survivors assessed at 1 month and 6 months postassault. There were no significant differences in startle reactivity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and non-PTSD groups at the initial assessment. However, at 6 months postassault there was a significantly greater EMG and HR response in the PTSD group as well as a significant increase in startle reactivity from 1 month to 6 months postassault. The findings lend support to a sensitization model of trauma reactivity in which startle response develops over time along with PTSD symptoms.

Original language	American English
Journal	Journal of Traumatic Stress
Volume	21
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.20300
State	Published - Feb 26 2008

Disciplines

Clinical Psychology
Psychiatry
Psychology

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title = "A Prospective Assessment of Auditory Startle Alterations in Rape and Physical Assault Survivors",

abstract = " This study used a prospective design to investigate startle reactivity following trauma exposure. Startle response was evaluated using loud tones during which measures of eyeblink electromyogram (EMG) and heart rate (HR) were collected. Participants were 40 female sexual or physical assault survivors assessed at 1 month and 6 months postassault. There were no significant differences in startle reactivity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and non-PTSD groups at the initial assessment. However, at 6 months postassault there was a significantly greater EMG and HR response in the PTSD group as well as a significant increase in startle reactivity from 1 month to 6 months postassault. The findings lend support to a sensitization model of trauma reactivity in which startle response develops over time along with PTSD symptoms.",

author = "Griffin, {Michael G.}",

note = "J Trauma Stress. 2008 Feb;21(1):91-9. doi: 10.1002/jts.20300. Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural",

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N2 - This study used a prospective design to investigate startle reactivity following trauma exposure. Startle response was evaluated using loud tones during which measures of eyeblink electromyogram (EMG) and heart rate (HR) were collected. Participants were 40 female sexual or physical assault survivors assessed at 1 month and 6 months postassault. There were no significant differences in startle reactivity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and non-PTSD groups at the initial assessment. However, at 6 months postassault there was a significantly greater EMG and HR response in the PTSD group as well as a significant increase in startle reactivity from 1 month to 6 months postassault. The findings lend support to a sensitization model of trauma reactivity in which startle response develops over time along with PTSD symptoms.

AB - This study used a prospective design to investigate startle reactivity following trauma exposure. Startle response was evaluated using loud tones during which measures of eyeblink electromyogram (EMG) and heart rate (HR) were collected. Participants were 40 female sexual or physical assault survivors assessed at 1 month and 6 months postassault. There were no significant differences in startle reactivity between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and non-PTSD groups at the initial assessment. However, at 6 months postassault there was a significantly greater EMG and HR response in the PTSD group as well as a significant increase in startle reactivity from 1 month to 6 months postassault. The findings lend support to a sensitization model of trauma reactivity in which startle response develops over time along with PTSD symptoms.

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U2 - 10.1002/jts.20300

DO - 10.1002/jts.20300

M3 - Article

VL - 21

JO - Journal of Traumatic Stress

JF - Journal of Traumatic Stress

ER -

A Prospective Assessment of Auditory Startle Alterations in Rape and Physical Assault Survivors

Abstract

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