Predictors of emotional numbing, revisited: A replication and extension

Litz et al. (1997), theorizing that emotional numbing (EN) is the result of emotional depletion caused by chronic hyperarousal, demonstrated that a cluster of hyperarousal symptoms was a robust predictor of EN symptoms. In the present study, these findings were replicated and extended in two multipl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of traumatic stress 2000-10, Vol.13 (4), p.611-618
Main Authors: Flack Jr, William F., Litz, Brett T., Hsieh, Frank Y., Kaloupek, Danny G., Keane, Terence M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Affect
Anxiety disorders. Neuroses
Arousal - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
emotional numbing
Heart Rate - physiology
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Post-traumatic stress disorder
posttraumatic stress disorder
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - diagnosis
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology
Veterans - psychology
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Summary:Litz et al. (1997), theorizing that emotional numbing (EN) is the result of emotional depletion caused by chronic hyperarousal, demonstrated that a cluster of hyperarousal symptoms was a robust predictor of EN symptoms. In the present study, these findings were replicated and extended in two multiple regression analyses of data from a large, multisite investigation (T. M. Keane et al., 1998) of psychophysiological responding by male combat veterans. The arousal (D) cluster of symptoms was again the most robust predictor of EN symptoms, whereas physiological indices of arousal and reactivity accounted for negligible amounts of variance in both regression equations. These findings underscore the possible link between disturbances related to arousal and the capacity of traumatized individuals to express and experience pleasant feelings.
ISSN:0894-9867
1573-6598
DOI:10.1023/A:1007806132319