Changes in Plasma Norepinephrine to Combat-Related Stimuli among Vietnam Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Are the neural substrates of memory the final common pathway in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

“…In combat veterans with PTSD (Yehuda et al, 1992) and women with child abuse-related PTSD (Lemieux and Coe, 1995) 24-h urinary excretion of noradrenaline has been correlated with intrusive traumatic memories as measured by the IES (Impact of Event Scale). Furthermore, plasma noradrenaline was enhanced in veterans with PTSD after exposure to auditory stimuli reminiscent of combat (McFall et al, 1990;Blanchard et al, 1991). These findings indicate that adrenaline may be associated with the intrusive memories of PTSD-patients.…”

Neuroendocrine and Psychophysiologic Responses in PTSD: A Symptom Provocation Study

“…Prior studies found similar elevations in one or the other, but not both, of these hormones (Blanchard et al 1991b;McFall et al 1990). The differences may relate to stimulus intensity, because simultaneous elevations in both Epi and NE are seen in normals exposed to sufficiently stressful challenges, such as sky diving (Richter et al 1996).…”

Research Potential of a Heart Rate Variability Diagnostic System for the Study of Stress and Health Risk in Peacekeeping Operations

“…The observed patterns of activity of autonomic cardiovascular control might be the following: increased sympathetic activity [Blanchard et al, 1991;Bremner et al, 1999;Keane et al, 1985;Kolb, 1987;Kolb, 1984]; and increased sympathetic activity and suppression of parasympathetic activity [Cohen et al, 1997;McFall et al, 1992]. Kaloupek & Bremner, 1996 suggest that in psychophysiological studies of PTSD we should explore the model of autonomic activation of Berntson et al, 1991, which includes sympathetic activation; parasympathetic withdrawal; concurrent activation in both branches with the accent on sympathetic dominance.…”