Conditioned physiological reactivity and PTSD symptoms across the menstrual cycle: Anxiety sensitivity as a moderator.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph K. Carpenter ◽  
Laura Bragdon ◽  
Suzanne L. Pineles
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Anxiety Sensitivity ◽  
Physiological Reactivity ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms

Conditioned Physiological Reactivity and PTSD Symptoms Across the Menstrual Cycle: Anxiety Sensitivity as a Moderator

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Carpenter ◽  
Laura Bragdon ◽  
Suzanne L. Pineles
Keyword(s):  
Menstrual Cycle ◽  
Fear Conditioning ◽  
Anxiety Sensitivity ◽  
Conditioned Fear ◽  
Gonadal Hormones ◽  
Fear Learning ◽  
Physiological Reactivity ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Objective: PTSD is often associated with heightened physiological reactivity during fear conditioning procedures, but results vary across studies. The present study examined whether anxiety sensitivity (AS), or the fear of arousal-related sensations, strengthens the relationship between PTSD symptoms and skin conductance responses (SCR) during fear conditioning and extinction. Because gonadal hormones implicated in fear learning processes fluctuate across the menstrual cycle, the stability of these relationships in women was examined in two distinct menstrual cycle phases. Method: Thirty-two trauma-exposed women with (n=16) and without PTSD (n=16) completed the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Inventory, and a fear conditioning and extinction paradigm during the mid-luteal (mLP) and early-follicular (eFP) menstrual cycle phases. Results: In the mLP, stronger SCR to stimuli paired with shock (CS+) during fear acquisition significantly predicted greater PTSD symptoms only when AS was high and after removing an outlier. This appeared driven by effects on Numbing and Hyperarousal symptom clusters. Other hypothesized interactions between AS and CS responses were not significant. However, in the eFP, differential SCR between the CS+ and CS- during extinction predicted significantly greater PTSD symptoms, and there was a trend for this effect being stronger as AS increased. Conclusions: Results offer preliminary evidence that high AS contributes to a stronger relationship between physiological responses during fear acquisition and PTSD symptoms, at least among women in the mLP. Further research investigating the impact of individual differences in traits such as AS on the relationship between conditioned fear responses and PTSD symptoms is warranted.

scholarly journals Interactive Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury and Anxiety Sensitivity on PTSD Symptoms: A Replication and Extension in Two Clinical Samples

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 510-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Albanese ◽  
Richard J. Macatee ◽  
Joseph W. Boffa ◽  
Craig J. Bryan ◽  
Michael J. Zvolensky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Anxiety Sensitivity ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms

The Association Between Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Anxiety Sensitivity in a College Sample

2020 ◽  
pp. 003329412094822
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Caulfield ◽  
Rachel L. Martin ◽  
Aaron M. Norr ◽  
Daniel W. Capron
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Anxiety Sensitivity ◽  
Ptsd Symptom ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Symptom Clusters ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms ◽  
Sensitivity Index ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Stress Symptoms

Background/Objectives One-half of all U.S. adults will experience at least one traumatic event, and of those, approximately 11% develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Despite efficacious treatments for PTSD, one-third of people diagnosed still express symptoms after treatment.Thus, it is important to identify underlying factors that may be associated with PTSD symptom clusters to improve treatment efficacy. One potential factor is anxiety sensitivity (AS), or “the fear of fear,” and includes three different subfactors: physical, cognitive, and social concerns, yet few studies have examined this association using the Anxiety Sensitivity Index-3. Method Participants included 65 undergraduate students from a Southeastern University who were elevated on anxiety sensitivity cognitive concerns and experienced at least one traumatic event. Participants completed measures of trauma exposure, anxiety sensitivity, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and suicidal ideation. Results Results revealed that AS physical symptoms had the most robust association with potential PTSD symptoms and individual PTSD symptom clusters with the exception of the avoidance and numbing cluster Conclusions These findings may help clarify the nature of the relationship between PTSD symptoms and AS using the most updated measure of AS (ASI-3).

scholarly journals Longitudinal course of anxiety sensitivity and PTSD symptoms in cognitive-behavioral therapies for PTSD

2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 728-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cassidy A. Gutner ◽  
Yael I. Nillni ◽  
Michael Suvak ◽  
Shannon Wiltsey-Stirman ◽  
Patricia A. Resick
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Sensitivity ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Longitudinal Course ◽  
Behavioral Therapies ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral Therapies
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document