The effect of talking about psychological trauma with a significant other on heart rate reactivity in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) commonly make efforts to avoid trauma-oriented conversations with their significant others, which may interfere with the natural recovery process. Trauma-oriented conversations can be experienced as physiologically arousing, depending on the intensity of PTSD symptoms and perceptions of social support. In the current investigation, changes in heart rate responses to a trauma-oriented social interaction with a significant other were assessed. Perceived supportive and unsupportive or negative social interactions were examined as moderators of the association between heart rate changes to this context and intensity of PTSD symptoms. A total of 46 individuals with PTSD completed diagnostic interviews and self-report measures of symptoms and perceived supportive and negative social interactions during a trauma-oriented social interaction with a significant other. Heart rate was continuously measured during this interaction. Results showed that engagement in a trauma-oriented social interaction was predictive of elevations in heart rate that positively correlated with intensity of PTSD symptoms. The moderation hypothesis was partially supported. In addition, perceived negative social interactions positively correlated with elevations in heart rate. These findings can inform social intervention efforts for individuals with PTSD.

The buffering power of overt socially supportive and unsupportive behaviors from the significant other on posttraumatic stress disorder individuals’ emotional state

“…In light what was presented in an earlier and related study (see Nachar, et al, 2014 for the results and a more detailed discussion), the trauma-oriented discussion seemed to first specifically trigger a significant elevation in heart rate in individuals with PTSD (i.e. from T2 to T3a), which might be indicative of a sympathetic activation or a parasympathetic withdrawal.…”

“…This was then followed by a decrease in their heart rate (i.e. from T3a to b and c), which might be indicative of a parasympathetic activation (see Nachar, et al, 2014) or a sympathetic withdrawal.…”

“…In other terms, a trauma-oriented social interaction can be experienced, at first, as stressful for individuals with PTSD, usually avoiding such a situation (APA, 2013;Foa & Rothbaum, 1998; see Nachar et al, 2014). However, this arousal decreased as a function of time, as shown by the attenuation in participants' heart rate (see Nachar et al, 2014, for a discussion). In addition, other disorders such as OCD and PD did not show the same pattern of results.…”

“…Results from our own previous study revealed that a trauma-oriented social interaction with a significant other was accompanied by increased heart rate, and this outcome was correlated with the severity of PTSD symptoms (see Nachar et al, 2014). More severe PTSD symptoms were associated with larger increases in heart rate when individuals spoke about their trauma to a significant other.…”

“…An objective index of individuals' emotional state or reactions to stress can be provided by physiological measures. Physiological responsiveness is clearly a crucial dimension of PTSD (see Nachar, Lavoie, Marchand, O'Connor, & Guay, 2014;Pole 2006Pole , 2007. Indeed, individuals with PTSD have persistently showed increased sympathetic responses or reduced Anxiety, Stress, and Coping 3 parasympathetic activity (Hopper, Spinazzola, Simpson, & van der Kolk, 2006;Sack, Hopper, & Lamprecht, 2004) to both trauma-related cues and unconditioned stimuli, as measured by changes in heart rate .…”