A CROSS-CULTURAL-STUDY OF REACTIVATION OF POSTTRAUMATIC-STRESS-DISORDER SYMPTOMS - AMERICAN AND CAMBODIAN PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE TO VIEWING TRAUMATIC VIDEO SCENES

A physiological hyperarousal state, which can be reactivated by trauma tic stimuli, occurs frequently in patients with posttraumatic stress d isorder (PTSD). The goals of this study were to determine whether phys iological hyperarousal measured by increased heart rate is a specific response to reminders of a patient's own traumatic events or a more ge neralized hyperarousal state. Five brief videotape scenes of traumatic events (hurricane, auto accident, Cambodian refugee camp, domestic vi olence, and Vietnam War) were shown to two patient groups with PTSD (V ietnam veterans and Cambodian refugees) and three control groups (Viet nam veterans, Cambodian refugees, and nonpatient Americans). Observati ons of subjects' behavior, subjective ratings of distress, and heart r ate change were recorded and evaluated. The results indicated that Cam bodians with PTSD had the most reactions as measured by behavior and h eart rate changes. These tended to occur during all scenes, not just t he specific Cambodian scene, indicating a general nonspecific arousal. The Vietnam veterans had the fewest changes implying an inhibition of response. The control groups were intermediate in physiological respo nse. The response in PTSD patients to reactivation scenes is complex a nd probably relates to type and degree of trauma, as well as to cultur e.