Citation

Yehuda R, Resnick HS, Schmeidler J, Yang RK, Pitman RK. Biol. Psychiatry 1998; 43(11): 855-859.

Affiliation

Psychiatry Department, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Bronx VA Medical center, New York 10468, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9611677

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Prospective studies of trauma survivors can provide information about the relationship between rape characteristics and the development of subsequent symptoms. METHODS: The present study examined the relationship of prior assault, rape severity, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following rape, and subsequent PTSD diagnosis, to the acute cortisol and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) response to this traumatic event in 20 women. RESULTS: Women with a history of prior physical or sexual assault showed a significantly attenuated cortisol response to the acute stress of rape compared to women without such a history. MHPG appeared to be associated with injury-related rape characteristics, and symptoms of active avoidance, but not prior history. PTSD status at the 3-month follow-up was predicted by both a prior history of assault and high injury rape, but was not directly predicted by either cortisol or MHPG levels. MHPG and cortisol were not correlated in the sample as a whole, but were correlated among individuals who did not subsequently develop PTSD (p = .04) CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that different neuroendocrine systems may mediate different components of the response to traumatic stress.

Language: en