Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2025
Polar Histogram Visualization of Acute Stress Disorder Scale Scores for Comprehensive Clinical Assessment
Published on: December 6, 2024
Quantifying Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms During Traumatic Memories Using Interpretable Markers of
Background:
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) causes heightened fight-or-flight responses to traumatic memories (i.e., hyperarousal). Although hyperarousal is hypothesized to cause irregular breathing (i.e., respiratory variability), no quantitative markers of respiratory variability have been shown to correspond with PTSD symptoms in humans.
Objective:
In this study, we define interpretable markers of respiration pattern variability (RPV) and investigate whether these markers respond during traumatic memories, correlate with PTSD symptoms, and differ in patients with PTSD.
Methods:
We recruited 156 veterans from the Vietnam-Era Twin Registry to participate in a trauma recall protocol. From respiratory effort and electrocardiogram measurements, we extracted respiratory timings and rate using a robust quality assessment and fusion approach. We then quantified RPV using the interquartile range and compared RPV between baseline and trauma recall conditions, correlated PTSD symptoms to the difference between trauma recall and baseline RPV (i.e., ∆RPV), and compared ∆RPV between patients with PTSD and trauma-exposed controls. Leveraging a subset of 116 paired twins, we then uniquely controlled for factors shared by co-twins via within-pair analysis for further validation.
Results:
We found RPV was increased during traumatic memories (p .001), ∆ RPV was positively correlated with PTSD symptoms (p .05), and patients with PTSD exhibited higher ∆ RPV than trauma-exposed controls (p . 05).
Conclusions:
This paper is the first to elucidate RPV markers that respond during traumatic memories, especially in patients with PTSD, and correlate with PTSD symptoms.
Significance:
These findings encourage future studies outside the clinic, where interpretable markers of respiratory variability are used to track hyperarousal.
More Related Videos
08:29Biomarkers in an Animal Model for Revealing Neural, Hematologic, and Behavioral Correlates of PTSD
Published on: October 10, 2012
10:43Developing Neuroimaging Phenotypes of the Default Mode Network in PTSD: Integrating the Resting State, Working Memory, and Structural Connectivity
Published on: July 1, 2014
Related Concept Videos
01:27Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
01:23Acute Respiratory Failure-IV
01:29Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
01:27Physical Assessment of the Respiratory Tract II: Inspection
Chest Configuration
The chest configuration...
01:26Respiratory Volumes and Capacities I
01:20Assessment of Ventilation I: Respiratory Rate
A Ventilation assessment is critical for monitoring a patient's health status. Respiration, one of the most accessible vital signs, provides insights into the function of numerous body systems and can indicate serious health issues, such as brainstem injuries from head trauma.
Critical Guidelines for Assessing Ventilation: