Sensory modulation difficulties and PTSD: A prospective study during and after rocket attacks

Civilians in war may suffer from distress not only during the peritraumatic phase, manifested in early trauma-related symptoms, but also after the trauma ends, as reflected in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Evidence has suggested that early trauma-related symptoms underlie the development of PTSD. Additionally, research has revealed relations between sensory responsiveness and both early trauma-related symptoms and PTSD, thus implying that individuals with sensory modulation difficulties may exhibit elevated symptomatology at the peritraumatic phase and may be at risk for PTSD. Nevertheless, the cross-sectional design of former studies allowed neither identifying the directionality of the relationship between sensory modulation and PTSD nor exploring the role of early trauma-related symptoms within this relationship.

The current prospective study, which was aimed at bridging these knowledge gaps, was conducted among a convenience sample of Israeli adults (n = 209) during rocket attacks (T1) and 40-71 days after ceasefire (T2). Background variables, sensory modulation difficulties, early trauma-related symptoms, and PTSD symptoms were assessed online via self-report measures.

Results revealed that high sensory responsiveness was related to early trauma-related symptoms and predicted PTSD symptoms of hyperarousal, intrusion, and negative alterations in mood and cognitions. Moreover, early trauma-related symptomatology mediated the relations between high sensory responsiveness and PTSD symptoms of intrusion and negative alterations in mood and cognitions.

The current findings suggest that high sensory responsiveness is a risk factor for PTSD and that early trauma-related symptomatology may serve as a mechanism underlying the relationship between high sensory responsiveness and PTSD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).