Lifespan-developmental differences in physiologic reactivity to loud tones in trauma victims: a pilot study

Age at exposure to trauma has been identified as a risk factor for severity of trauma sequelae due to the developmental vulnerability of several brain structures involved in trauma processing. To investigate whether persons traumatized in adolescence show elevated arousal and startle reaction parameters, we studied persons traumatized by political imprisonment in the former East Germany either in their late adolescence or young adulthood (17-22 years, n=9) or middle adulthood (35-50 years, n=6). Physiological reactions (skin conductance, heart rate) to loud tones and self-report tests were measured. Covariance analysis yielded one significant difference, mean skin conductance response, with a higher mean for the younger group. Results are discussed in light of its limitations and further prospects.