Varieties of Combat Stress Reaction

Abstract

The use of an immunological metaphor allows the incorporation of established theoretical ideas about trauma and stress in an integrative way which enables delineation and illustration of several varieties of combat stress reaction, including subtle forms of that condition which do not often appear in post-traumatic stress disorder literature.

The inoculating role of previous exposure to potentially traumatic life events on coping with prolonged exposure to rocket attacks: A lifespan perspective

“…Some models incorporate these contradicting hypotheses, explaining that the same factors that serve to protect one's mental health may turn out to be malign, as in the immune system (Garb et al, 1987). The present study will further examine this idea by exploring whether potentially traumatic life events (PTLE) enhance vulnerability but also serve to inoculate people, depending on their level.…”

“…The vulnerability hypothesis (Solomon and Ginzburg, 1998;Shrira et al, 2010;Shmotkin et al, 2011) argues that older adults are at risk to the impact of traumatic exposure, because of their poorer physical, social, and financial resources, and therefore older age is expected to be associated with higher levels of PTS. Other authors argued that past traumatic exposure might cause specific or generalized cross-sensitive reaction to new exposure to negative life events (Garb et al, 1987). In contrast to this hypothesis, according to the inoculation hypothesis exposure to a particular stressor reduces the subsequent impact of the same stressor, helping to develop tolerance (Eysenck, 1983).…”

Human psychoneuroimmunology today

“…These two useful metaphors, which are based on one biological observation, could be of heuristic value when trying to extrapolate on system development and organization. Recently, an immunological metaphor has been used to better understand combat stress reactions (276).…”

Effect of the Gulf war on reactivation of adverse combat-related memories in Vietnam veterans

“…These results suggest that previous combat stressors produce long-term residual effects in veterans that make them more vulnerable to future stressors and reactivation of the symptoms of the original trauma (Archibald & Tuddenham, 1965;Christenson, Walker, Ross, & Maltbie, 1981;Garb et al, 1987;Solomon, Garb, Bleich, & Grupper, 1987). Apart from these limited clinical reports, little research has investigated the dimensions of stimuli that can reactivate PTSD in the community.…”

“…Delayed PTSD is diagnosed when the symptoms appear 6 months or more after the stressful experience (American Psychiatric Association, 1987; Solomon, Mikulincer, & Waysman, 1991). At any time after the traumatic event PTSD may be in remission, and in some cases it may be reactivated either by specific stimuli or by a wider range of less specific stimuli (Garb, Kutz, Bleich, & Solomon, 1987; Solomon, Garb, Bleich, & Crupper, 1987). Very few studies, however, have documented the antecedents of reactivated PTSD.…”