Amnesia, neuroendocrine levels and PTSD in motor vehicle accident victims

Primary objective: To examine the initial neuroendocrine responses and subs equent PTSD symptomatology among amnesic and non-amnesic victims of motor v ehicle accidents. It was hypothesized that amnesic patients would be less l ikely to meet PTSD criteria at 1 month follow-up and would display lower ca techalomine levels and higher basal cortisol than non-amnesics. Methods and procedure: Fifteen-hour urinary hormone samples were collected from 70 MVA victims upon hospital admission. Participants were assessed for PTSD symptomatology 1 month later. Main outcomes and results: Amnesic patients displayed lower NE/cortisol rat ios than non-amnesics, were less likely than non-amnesics to develop PTSD, and displayed fewer PTSD symptoms than non-amnesics. Conclusions : Amnesics may physiologically experience a motor vehicle accid ent differently from non-amnesics and have lower subsequent PTSD incidence. These results provide partial support for the hypothesis that amnesia for a traumatic event can serve as a buffering function in the development of s ubsequent PTSD among MVA victims.