OBJECTIVE: Tonic immobility is a defensive reaction occurring under extreme life threats. Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reporting peritraumatic tonic immobility show the most severe symptoms and a poorer response to treatment. This study investigated the predictive value of tonic immobility for posttraumatic stress symptoms in a non-clinical sample. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-eight college students exposed to various life threatening events were selected to participate. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Civilian Version (PCL-C) and tonic immobility questions were used. Linear regression models were fitted to investigate the association between peritraumatic tonic immobility and PCL-C scores. Peritraumatic dissociation, peritraumatic panic reactions, negative affect, gender, type of trauma, and time since trauma were considered as confounding variables. RESULTS: We found significant association between peritraumatic tonic immobility and PTSD symptoms in a non-clinical sample exposed to various traumas, even after regression controlled for confounding variables (β = 1.99, p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: This automatic reaction under extreme life threatening stress, although adaptive for defense, may have pathological consequences as implied by its association with PTSD symptoms.
OBJECTIVE: Tonic immobility is a defensive reaction occurring under extreme life threats. Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reporting peritraumatic tonic immobility show the most severe symptoms and a poorer response to treatment. This study investigated the predictive value of tonic immobility for posttraumatic stress symptoms in a non-clinical sample. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-eight college students exposed to various life threatening events were selected to participate. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Civilian Version (PCL-C) and tonic immobility questions were used. Linear regression models were fitted to investigate the association between peritraumatic tonic immobility and PCL-C scores. Peritraumatic dissociation, peritraumatic panic reactions, negative affect, gender, type of trauma, and time since trauma were considered as confounding variables. RESULTS: We found significant association between peritraumatic tonic immobility and PTSD symptoms in a non-clinical sample exposed to various traumas, even after regression controlled for confounding variables (β = 1.99, p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: This automatic reaction under extreme life threatening stress, although adaptive for defense, may have pathological consequences as implied by its association with PTSD symptoms.
Authors: Rita de Cassia S Alves; Liana C L Portugal; Orlando Fernandes; Izabela Mocaiber; Gabriela G L Souza; Isabel de Paula A David; Eliane Volchan; Leticia de Oliveira; Mirtes G Pereira Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2014-12-23
Authors: Carlos Eduardo Norte; Eliane Volchan; Jaime Vila; Jose Luis Mata; Javier R Arbol; Mauro Mendlowicz; William Berger; Mariana Pires Luz; Vanessa Rocha-Rego; Ivan Figueira; Gabriela Guerra Leal de Souza Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2019-05-24
Authors: Andressa A Magalhaes; Camila M F Gama; Raquel M Gonçalves; Liana C L Portugal; Isabel A David; Fernanda Serpeloni; Liana Wernersbach Pinto; Simone G Assis; Joviana Q Avanci; Eliane Volchan; Ivan Figueira; Liliane M P Vilete; Mariana P Luz; William Berger; Fatima S Erthal; Mauro V Mendlowicz; Izabela Mocaiber; Mirtes G Pereira; Leticia de Oliveira Journal: Psychol Res Behav Manag Date: 2021-09-01