PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To examine the initial neuroendocrine responses and subsequent PTSD symptomatology among amnesic and non-amnesic victims of motor vehicle accidents. It was hypothesized that amnesic patients would be less likely to meet PTSD criteria at 1 month follow-up and would display lower catechalomine levels and higher basal cortisol than non-amnesics. METHODS AND PROCEDURE: Fifteen-hour urinary hormone samples were collected from 70 MVA victims upon hospital admission. Participants were assessed for PTSD symptomatology 1 month later. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Amnesic patients displayed lower NE/cortisol ratios than non-amnesics, were less likely than non-amnesics to develop PTSD, and displayed fewer PTSD symptoms than non-amnesics. CONCLUSIONS: Amnesics may physiologically experience a motor vehicle accident differently from non-amnesics and have lower subsequent PTSD incidence. These results provide partial support for the hypothesis that amnesia for a traumatic event can serve as a buffering function in the development of subsequent PTSD among MVA victims.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To examine the initial neuroendocrine responses and subsequent PTSD symptomatology among amnesic and non-amnesic victims of motor vehicle accidents. It was hypothesized that amnesicpatients would be less likely to meet PTSD criteria at 1 month follow-up and would display lower catechalomine levels and higher basal cortisol than non-amnesics. METHODS AND PROCEDURE: Fifteen-hour urinary hormone samples were collected from 70 MVA victims upon hospital admission. Participants were assessed for PTSD symptomatology 1 month later. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS:Amnesicpatients displayed lower NE/cortisol ratios than non-amnesics, were less likely than non-amnesics to develop PTSD, and displayed fewer PTSD symptoms than non-amnesics. CONCLUSIONS: Amnesics may physiologically experience a motor vehicle accident differently from non-amnesics and have lower subsequent PTSD incidence. These results provide partial support for the hypothesis that amnesia for a traumatic event can serve as a buffering function in the development of subsequent PTSD among MVA victims.
Authors: Lisa Falkenberg; Christian Zeckey; Philipp Mommsen; Marcel Winkelmann; Boris A Zelle; Martin Panzica; Hans-Christoph Pape; Christian Krettek; Christian Probst Journal: Eur J Med Res Date: 2017-10-30 Impact factor: 2.175