Heart rate during group flooding therapy for PTSD |
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Authors: | Steven H Woodward PhD Kent D Drescher PhD Ronald T Murphy PhD Joseph I Ruzek PhD David W Foy PhD Ned J Arsenault BA Fred D Gusman LCSW |
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Institution: | (1) National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, VAMC 323-D6, 3801 Miranda Ave., 94304 Palo, CA;(2) Pepperdine University, Culver City, CA |
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Abstract: | The objective of this study was to assess, via heart rate, the arousal levels of participants in group trauma reexposure therapy
for posttraumatic stress disorder, and so to better understand this common mode of treatment, particularly in regards to its
presumed curative factor, extinction. Six Vietnam combat-related PTSD inpatients participated twice weekly in group trauma
reexposure therapy during which their electrocardiograms were recorded. Heart rate was quantified continuously off-line. Heart
rates of participantsnot directly engaged in imaginal reexposure to their personal combat traumas consistently exhibited mild linear declines from
the beginnings to the ends of the approximately 2.5 hour sessions. Participants actively engaged in personal combat trauma
reexposure exhibited higher whole-session heart rates. Most also exhibited more specific elevation extending over the later
portions of therapy sessions during which intensive reexposure usually occurred. Surprisingly, no patients exhibitedfocal increases in heart rate concurrent with periods of most intensive traumatic incident review as judged from videotape. Administering
imaginal reexposure in a group context does not preclude substantial physiological (sympathetic) arousal, as is preconditional
for extinction. Under conditions in which the actively engaged reexposure patient is reliably identified, group trauma reexposure
therapy may not provide an opportunity for “vicarious” flooding in nonengaged participants. |
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Keywords: | stress traumatic heart rate group therapy |
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