Utility of Psychophysiological Measurement in the Diagnosis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Results From a Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study

• Published in: Journal of consulting and clinical psychology Vol. 66; no. 6; pp. 914 - 923
• Main Authors: Keane, Terence M, Kolb, Lawrence C, Kaloupek, Danny G, Orr, Scott P, Blanchard, Edward B, Thomas, Ronald G, Hsieh, Frank Y, Lavori, Philip W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Psychological Association 01-12-1998
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Anxiety disorders. Neuroses; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Pressure - physiology; Combat related posttraumatic stress disorder; Demography; Electromyography; Galvanic Skin Response - physiology; Heart Rate - physiology; Human; Humans; Imagery (Psychotherapy) - methods; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Military Veterans; Post traumatic stress disorder; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Psychodiagnosis; Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometrics - methods; Psychometrics - standards; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Psychophysiological aspects; Psychophysiology; Selection Bias; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - physiopathology; United States; Veterans; Veterans - psychology; Vietnam; Vietnam War; United States; Vietnam; Human; Visual imagery; Posttraumatic syndrome; Anxiety disorder; Prediction; Electrophysiology; Male; Heart rate; Electrodiagnosis; Symptomatology; Electromyography; Hemodynamics; Veteran
• ISSN: 0022-006X; 1939-2117
• DOI: 10.1037/0022-006X.66.6.914

This multisite study tested the ability of psychophysiological responding to predict posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) diagnosis (current,
lifetime,
or never) in a large sample of male Vietnam veterans. Predictor variables for a logistic regression equation were drawn from a challenge task involving scenes of combat. The equation was tested and cross-validated,
demonstrating correct classification of approximately 2/3 of the current and never PTSD participants. Results replicate the finding of heightened psychophysiological responding to trauma-related cues by individuals with current PTSD,
as well as differences in a variety of other domains between groups with and without the disorder. Follow-up analyses indicate that veterans with current PTSD who do not react physiologically to the challenge task manifest less reexperiencing symptoms,
depression,
and guilt. Discussion addresses the value of psychophysiological measures for assessment of PTSD.