Predictors of emotional numbing, revisited: A replication and extension

Litz et al. (1997), theorizing that emotional numbing (EN) is the result of emotional depletion caused by chronic hyperarousal, demonstrated that a cl uster of hyperarousal symptoms was a robust predictor of EN symptoms. In th e present study, these findings were replicated and extended in two multipl e regression analyses of data from a large, multisite investigation (T. M. Keane et al,. 1998) of psychophysiological responding by male combat vetera ns. The arousal (D) cluster of symptoms was again the most robust predictor of EN symptoms, whereas physiological indices of arousal and reactivity ac counted for negligible amounts of variance in both regression equations. Th ese findings underscore the possible link between disturbances related to a rousal and the capacity of traumatized individuals to express and experienc e pleasant feelings.