Dataset Information

Peritraumatic dissociation revisited: associations with autonomic activation, facial movements, staring, and intrusion formation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Peritraumatic dissociation is purported to emerge together with attenuated autonomic arousal, immobility, and staring. However, empirical evidence is scarce and heterogeneous. Moreover, it is still a matter of debate whether these responses predict intrusion formation.

Objective

The present trauma-analogue study examined associations between peritraumatic dissociation, autonomic activation, facial movements, staring, and intrusion formation.

Method

Seventy-one healthy women watched a highly aversive film, while autonomic activation (heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, skin conductance level), facial movements (temporal variations in corrugator electromyography), and staring (fixation duration, tracklength) were assessed. Afterwards, participants rated the intensity of dissociation during film viewing and reported intrusions and associated distress in a smartphone application for 24 hours.

Results

Peritraumatic dissociation was linked to higher autonomic arousal (higher heart rate and, on a trend-level, lower respiratory sinus arrhythmia), increased facial movements, and staring (lower tracklength). Peritraumatic dissociation, higher autonomic arousal (higher heart rate and lower respiratory sinus arrhythmia), staring (higher fixation duration), and, on a trend-level, more facial movements were linked to higher intrusion load (number x distress of intrusions) and together explained 59% of variance. Skin conductance level was neither linked to peritraumatic dissociation nor intrusion load.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that, at low-dissociation-levels observed in trauma-analogue studies, peritraumatic dissociation may occur together with heightened autonomic arousal and facial movements, indexing increased negative affect. Staring might, irrespectively of dissociation-levels, serve as objective marker for dissociation. Together, peritraumatic dissociation and its psychophysiological correlates might set the stage for later intrusion formation.

SUBMITTER: Danbock SK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8635573 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Peritraumatic dissociation revisited: associations with autonomic activation, facial movements, staring, and intrusion formation.

Danböck Sarah K SK Rattel Julina A JA Franke Laila K LK Liedlgruber Michael M Miedl Stephan F SF Wilhelm Frank H FH

European journal of psychotraumatology 20211119 1

<h4>Background</h4>Peritraumatic dissociation is purported to emerge together with attenuated autonomic arousal, immobility, and staring. However, empirical evidence is scarce and heterogeneous. Moreover, it is still a matter of debate whether these responses predict intrusion formation.<h4>Objective</h4>The present trauma-analogue study examined associations between peritraumatic dissociation, autonomic activation, facial movements, staring, and intrusion formation.<h4>Method</h4>Seventy-one he ...[more]

PMID: 34868483

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Project description:Background: Racial discrimination is a traumatic stressor that increases the risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but mechanisms to explain this relationship remain unclear. Peritraumatic dissociation, the complex process of disorientation, depersonalization, and derealization during a trauma, has been a consistent predictor of PTSD. Experiences of frequent racial discrimination may increase the propensity for peritraumatic dissociation in the context of new traumatic experiences and contribute to PTSD symptoms. However, the role of peritraumatic dissociation in the relationship between experiences of discrimination and PTSD has not been specifically explored.Objective: The current study investigated the role of peritraumatic dissociation in the impact of racial discrimination on PTSD symptoms after a traumatic injury, and the moderating role of gender.Method: One hundred and thirteen Black/African American individuals were recruited from the Emergency Department at a Level I Trauma Center. Two weeks after the trauma, participants self-reported their experiences with racial discrimination and peritraumatic dissociation. At the six-month follow-up appointment, individuals underwent a clinical assessment of their PTSD symptoms.Results: Results of longitudinal mediation analyses showed that peritraumatic dissociation significantly mediated the effect of racial discrimination on PTSD symptoms, after controlling for age and lifetime trauma exposure. A secondary analysis was conducted to examine the moderating role of gender. Gender was not a significant moderator in the model.Conclusions: Findings show that racial discrimination functions as a stressor that impacts how individuals respond to other traumatic events. The novel results suggest a mechanism that explains the relationship between racial discrimination and PTSD symptoms. These findings highlight the need for community spaces where Black Americans can process racial trauma and reduce the propensity to detach from daily, painful realities. Results also show that clinical intervention post-trauma must consider Black Americans' experiences with racial discrimination.

Dataset Information

Peritraumatic dissociation revisited: associations with autonomic activation, facial movements, staring, and intrusion formation.

Background

Objective

Method

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Peritraumatic dissociation revisited: associations with autonomic activation, facial movements, staring, and intrusion formation.

Similar Datasets

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