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Cited by 19Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ResearchChild Abuse and TraumaAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes

Impact of Trauma Type on Startle Reactivity to Predictable and Unpredictable Threats

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Kreutzer, Kayla A., Gorka, Stephanie M.·2021·Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease
DOI 10.1097/nmd.0000000000001394PMC PMC8633038
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Abstract

Trauma exposure has been repeatedly linked to psychophysiological threat reactivity, although the directionality of this association has been inconsistent. Several factors likely contribute to inconsistent findings including type of trauma and threat paradigm. The present study therefore examined the impact of trauma type on psychophysiological reactivity to predictable (P-) and unpredictable (U-) threat in young adults (N = 112). Participants were classified into three groups: history of interpersonal or noninterpersonal trauma, or no history of trauma. Startle eyeblink potentiation was recorded during a well-validated threat-of-shock paradigm. Results indicated individuals with interpersonal trauma exposure displayed exaggerated startle reactivity to U-threat (only) compared with both other groups. In contrast, individuals with noninterpersonal trauma exhibited blunted startle reactivity to U-threat (only) compared with both other groups. Findings reveal that trauma and threat type influence threat reactivity and that those with a history of interpersonal trauma may uniquely display exaggerated sensitivity to stressors that are uncertain.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Kreutzer, K. A., & Gorka, S. M.
Affiliations
The Ohio State University (US)
Corresponding author
  • Kreutzer, Kayla A.
  • Gorka, Stephanie M.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2021-12
Volume
209
Issue
12
Pages
899-904
ISSN
  • 0022-3018 (ISSN-L)
  • 1539-736X
DOI
10.1097/nmd.0000000000001394
PMC
PMC8633038
OpenAlex
W3187119004
Cited by
19
References
10
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6
FWCI
1.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (K23AA025111)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Keywords
trauma type, startle reactivity, threat reactivity, unpredictable threat, interpersonal trauma, psychophysiological reactivity, uncertainty sensitivity, trauma exposure
MeSH terms
Psychological Trauma, Adolescent, Adult, Fear, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Reflex, Startle, Violence, Young Adult, Anticipation, Psychological

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