Linked Life Data

21170766

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/21170766

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
2010-12-20
pubmed:abstractText
Exaggerated startle is a common symptom (based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [fourth edition] Criterion D) for many patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Findings from previous studies suggest that exaggerated startle may be due to trauma exposure or pretrauma vulnerability factors for PTSD development. The present clinical case study reports on a patient with PTSD characterized by a very prominent startle response and preference against standard trauma-related exposure strategies. On the basis of recent findings that interoceptive exposure exercises (e.g. shaking head side to side, hyperventilation) elicit trauma-related memories (Wald & Taylor, 2008), the authors sought to determine whether repeated application of an acoustic startle stimulus would serve to diminish the prominent startle response and facilitate exposure and overall symptom reduction by eliciting trauma-related memories. The protocol was successful in eliciting vivid and distressing trauma-related memories. Over the course of seven exposure trials, the patient demonstrated a decrease in distress elicited during the protocol, improved mood, and reduced general anxiety and trauma-related distress. He also reported significantly decreased startle response to loud noises encountered during activities of daily living. Although preliminary, these finding suggest that the acoustic startle protocol may be a viable (interoceptive) exposure strategy for individuals with PTSD, particularly those with exaggerated startle responses and those who are not amenable to standard trauma-related exposure strategies.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
1651-2316
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
39
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
311-8
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2010
pubmed:articleTitle
Is acoustic startle a viable exposure protocol for posttraumatic stress disorder? A clinical case study.
pubmed:affiliation
Anxiety and Illness Behaviours Laboratory, Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. gordon.asmundson@uregina.ca
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Case Reports