@article{ba80c2b6499245599a44bceb433bd064,
title = "A prospective examination of sex differences in posttraumatic autonomic functioning",
abstract = "Background: Cross-sectional studies have found that individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit deficits in autonomic functioning. While PTSD rates are twice as high in women compared to men, sex differences in autonomic functioning are relatively unknown among trauma-exposed populations. The current study used a prospective design to examine sex differences in posttraumatic autonomic functioning. Methods: 192 participants were recruited from emergency departments following trauma exposure (Mean age = 35.88, 68.2% female). Skin conductance was measured in the emergency department; fear conditioning was completed two weeks later and included measures of blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and high frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV). PTSD symptoms were assessed 8 weeks after trauma. Results: 2-week systolic BP was significantly higher in men, while 2-week HR was significantly higher in women, and a sex by PTSD interaction suggested that women who developed PTSD demonstrated the highest HR levels. Two-week HF-HRV was significantly lower in women, and a sex by PTSD interaction suggested that women with PTSD demonstrated the lowest HF-HRV levels. Skin conductance response in the emergency department was associated with 2-week HR and HF-HRV only among women who developed PTSD. Conclusions: Our results indicate that there are notable sex differences in autonomic functioning among trauma-exposed individuals. Differences in sympathetic biomarkers (BP and HR) may have implications for cardiovascular disease risk given that sympathetic arousal is a mechanism implicated in this risk among PTSD populations. Future research examining differential pathways between PTSD and cardiovascular risk among men versus women is warranted.",
keywords = "Autonomic, Cardiovascular, PTSD, Sex, Trauma",
author = "Seligowski, {Antonia V.} and Steuber, {Elizabeth R.} and Rebecca Hinrichs and Reda, {Mariam H.} and Wiltshire, {Charis N.} and Wanna, {Cassandra P.} and Winters, {Sterling J.} and Phillips, {Karlye A.} and House, {Stacey L.} and Beaudoin, {Francesca L.} and Xinming An and Stevens, {Jennifer S.} and Donglin Zeng and Neylan, {Thomas C.} and Clifford, {Gari D.} and Linnstaedt, {Sarah D.} and Germine, {Laura T.} and Bollen, {Kenneth A.} and Guia Guffanti and Rauch, {Scott L.} and Haran, {John P.} and Storrow, {Alan B.} and Christopher Lewandowski and Musey, {Paul I.} and Hendry, {Phyllis L.} and Sophia Sheikh and Jones, {Christopher W.} and Punches, {Brittany E.} and Kurz, {Michael C.} and Murty, {Vishnu P.} and McGrath, {Meghan E.} and Hudak, {Lauren A.} and Pascual, {Jose L.} and Seamon, {Mark J.} and Datner, {Elizabeth M.} and Chang, {Anna M.} and Claire Pearson and Peak, {David A.} and Merchant, {Roland C.} and Domeier, {Robert M.} and Rathlev, {Niels K.} and O'Neil, {Brian J.} and Sanchez, {Leon D.} and Bruce, {Steven E.} and Miller, {Mark W.} and Pietrzak, {Robert H.} and Jutta Joormann and Barch, {Deanna M.} and Pizzagalli, {Diego A.} and Sheridan, {John F.} and Beatriz Luna and Harte, {Steven E.} and Elliott, {James M.} and Koenen, {Karestan C.} and Kessler, {Ronald C.} and McLean, {Samuel A.} and Ressler, {Kerry J.} and Tanja Jovanovic",
note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by NIH U01 MH110925, the US Army Medical Research and Material Command, The One Mind Foundation, and The Mayday Fund. Funding Information: We would like to thank the many research assistants involved in the AURORA study for their assistance with participant recruitment and data acquisition. Data and/or research tools used in the preparation of this manuscript were obtained from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Data Archive (NDA). NDA is a collaborative informatics system created by the National Institutes of Health to provide a national resource to support and accelerate research in mental health. Dataset identifier: NIMH Data Archive Digital Object Identifier 10.15154/1521155. This manuscript reflects the views of the authors and may not reflect the opinions or views of the NIH or of the Submitters submitting original data to NDA. Support for title page creation and format was provided by AuthorArranger, a tool developed at the National Cancer Institute. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors",
year = "2021",
month = nov,
doi = "10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100384",
language = "English",
volume = "15",
journal = "Neurobiology of Stress",
issn = "2352-2895",
}