Baseline startle amplitude and prepulse inhibition in Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder

Christian Grillon; Charles A. Morgan; Steve M. Southwick; Michael Davis; Dennis S. Charney

doi:10.1016/S0165-1781(96)02942-3

Baseline startle amplitude and prepulse inhibition in Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder

Christian Grillon, Charles A. Morgan, Steve M. Southwick, Michael Davis, Dennis S. Charney

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

190 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although an exaggerated startle response is a symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), empirical support for elevated baseline startle in PTSD has been weak. The present study investigated the eyeblink component of the acoustic startle reflex and prepulse inhibition (PPI) in 21 unmedicated Vietnam veterans with PTSD and in 17 civilian and 10 combat veteran comparison subjects. Patients with PTSD exhibited normal acoustic startle amplitude, but showed a significant reduction in PPI relative to the civilian subjects. There was only a trend toward a reduction in PPI in the PTSD group compared with the combat control group. The study does not support the hypothesis of exaggerated baseline startle in Vietnam veterans with PTSD but suggests abnormal startle modulation by a prepulse (i.e., PPI). Discrepancies between studies concerning the amplitude of startle in PTSD are discussed.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	169-178
Number of pages	10
Journal	Psychiatry Research
Volume	64
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-1781(96)02942-3
State	Published - 16 Oct 1996
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Acoustic startle reflex
Anxiety disorder
Arousal
Eyeblink reflex
Psychophysiology

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10.1016/S0165-1781(96)02942-3

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title = "Baseline startle amplitude and prepulse inhibition in Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder",

abstract = "Although an exaggerated startle response is a symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), empirical support for elevated baseline startle in PTSD has been weak. The present study investigated the eyeblink component of the acoustic startle reflex and prepulse inhibition (PPI) in 21 unmedicated Vietnam veterans with PTSD and in 17 civilian and 10 combat veteran comparison subjects. Patients with PTSD exhibited normal acoustic startle amplitude, but showed a significant reduction in PPI relative to the civilian subjects. There was only a trend toward a reduction in PPI in the PTSD group compared with the combat control group. The study does not support the hypothesis of exaggerated baseline startle in Vietnam veterans with PTSD but suggests abnormal startle modulation by a prepulse (i.e., PPI). Discrepancies between studies concerning the amplitude of startle in PTSD are discussed.",

keywords = "Acoustic startle reflex, Anxiety disorder, Arousal, Eyeblink reflex, Psychophysiology",

author = "Christian Grillon and Morgan, {Charles A.} and Southwick, {Steve M.} and Michael Davis and Charney, {Dennis S.}",

note = "Funding Information: The researchr eportedw as supportedb y National Institute of Mental Health grant 1 R29 MH-50720t o C.G., by a VA RAG to C.A.M., and by the National Center for PosttraumaticS tressD is-order.",

year = "1996",

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doi = "10.1016/S0165-1781(96)02942-3",

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AU - Grillon, Christian

AU - Morgan, Charles A.

AU - Southwick, Steve M.

AU - Davis, Michael

AU - Charney, Dennis S.

N1 - Funding Information: The researchr eportedw as supportedb y National Institute of Mental Health grant 1 R29 MH-50720t o C.G., by a VA RAG to C.A.M., and by the National Center for PosttraumaticS tressD is-order.

PY - 1996/10/16

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N2 - Although an exaggerated startle response is a symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), empirical support for elevated baseline startle in PTSD has been weak. The present study investigated the eyeblink component of the acoustic startle reflex and prepulse inhibition (PPI) in 21 unmedicated Vietnam veterans with PTSD and in 17 civilian and 10 combat veteran comparison subjects. Patients with PTSD exhibited normal acoustic startle amplitude, but showed a significant reduction in PPI relative to the civilian subjects. There was only a trend toward a reduction in PPI in the PTSD group compared with the combat control group. The study does not support the hypothesis of exaggerated baseline startle in Vietnam veterans with PTSD but suggests abnormal startle modulation by a prepulse (i.e., PPI). Discrepancies between studies concerning the amplitude of startle in PTSD are discussed.

AB - Although an exaggerated startle response is a symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), empirical support for elevated baseline startle in PTSD has been weak. The present study investigated the eyeblink component of the acoustic startle reflex and prepulse inhibition (PPI) in 21 unmedicated Vietnam veterans with PTSD and in 17 civilian and 10 combat veteran comparison subjects. Patients with PTSD exhibited normal acoustic startle amplitude, but showed a significant reduction in PPI relative to the civilian subjects. There was only a trend toward a reduction in PPI in the PTSD group compared with the combat control group. The study does not support the hypothesis of exaggerated baseline startle in Vietnam veterans with PTSD but suggests abnormal startle modulation by a prepulse (i.e., PPI). Discrepancies between studies concerning the amplitude of startle in PTSD are discussed.

KW - Acoustic startle reflex

KW - Anxiety disorder

KW - Arousal

KW - Eyeblink reflex

KW - Psychophysiology

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SN - 0165-1781

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JO - Psychiatry Research

JF - Psychiatry Research

IS - 3

ER -

Baseline startle amplitude and prepulse inhibition in Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Keywords

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