The aim of this proposal is to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the exaggerated startle response which is one of the hallmarks of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Animal studies of inescapable shock and psychophysiological investigations in Vietnam war veterans with PTSD suggest that both conditioned and unconditioned mechanisms must be considered in the pathogenesis of PTSD. The conceptual framework for the proposed study is based on animal models of conditioned and unconditioned stress-induced startle modulation, namely, fear- potentiated startle, shock sensitization of startle, and stress-induced loss of prepulse inhibition. Hyperreactivity of PTSD veterans may also point to a general deficit in processing environmental stimuli. We have found that PTSD veterans engaged excessive attention toward external stimuli. We will attempt to further characterize this deficit using event-related potentials (ERP). We will also conduct a study using brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP) to explore sensory processing. The relationship between any impairments in information processing and abnormal startle modulation will also be examined. Startle modulation and processing of external stimuli will be investigated both at baseline and during experimentally-induced stress in veterans with PTSD (N=44) and appropriate civilian (N=82) and veteran (N=81) control subjects. The stress conditions will consist of anticipation of electric shocks and the viewing of traumatic scenes. The eyeblink component of the startle reflex elicited by an intense acoustic stimulus with abrupt onset will be measured electromyographically. Cognitive processing of external stimuli will be investigated with ERPs elicited by various types of stimuli that are designed to attract the subject's attention. The BAEPs will be measured at baseline only. The results of the proposed study will clarify whether the increased reactivity to sensory stimulation in PTSD reflects a chronic elevated arousal or a stimulus-induced state. These experiments may provide a foundation for more objective diagnostic approaches and a better assessment of treatment outcome through the characterization of core symptoms of PTSD. In addition, our current state of knowledge from the delineation of the neurobiological substrates of stress-related startle modulation in animals could lead to the identification of patterns of brain dysregulation involved in PTSD and could ultimately result in the development of better behavioral and pharmacological treatment approaches for this disorder.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
First Independent Research Support & Transition (FIRST) Awards (R29)
Project #
5R29MH050720-02
Application #
2250063
Study Section
Violence and Traumatic Stress Review Committee (VTS)
Project Start
1993-04-01
Project End
1998-03-31
Budget Start
1994-04-01
Budget End
1995-03-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1994
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
082359691
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Ameli, R; Ip, C; Grillon, C (2001) Contextual fear-potentiated startle conditioning in humans: replication and extension. Psychophysiology 38:383-90
Grillon, C; Ameli, R (2001) Conditioned inhibition of fear-potentiated startle and skin conductance in humans. Psychophysiology 38:807-15
Grillon, C; Morgan 3rd, C A (1999) Fear-potentiated startle conditioning to explicit and contextual cues in Gulf War veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. J Abnorm Psychol 108:134-42
Grillon, C; Morgan 3rd, C A; Davis, M et al. (1998) Effects of experimental context and explicit threat cues on acoustic startle in Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder. Biol Psychiatry 44:1027-36
Grillon, C; Ameli, R (1998) Effects of threat of shock, shock electrode placement and darkness on startle. Int J Psychophysiol 28:223-31
Grillon, C; Morgan 3rd, C A; Davis, M et al. (1998) Effect of darkness on acoustic startle in Vietnam veterans with PTSD. Am J Psychiatry 155:812-7
Grillon, C; Davis, M (1997) Effects of stress and shock anticipation on prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex. Psychophysiology 34:511-7
Grillon, C; Pellowski, M; Merikangas, K R et al. (1997) Darkness facilitates the acoustic startle reflex in humans. Biol Psychiatry 42:453-60
Grillon, C; Dierker, L; Merikangas, K R (1997) Startle modulation in children at risk for anxiety disorders and/or alcoholism. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 36:925-32
Grillon, C; Davis, M (1997) Fear-potentiated startle conditioning in humans: explicit and contextual cue conditioning following paired versus unpaired training. Psychophysiology 34:451-8

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