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Shedding light on the validity of sentence completion test (SCT) verbal defensiveness as an index of defensive behavior, the current two-part study examined the relationship between psychological threat and verbal defensiveness among military security and mission-critical team candidates using SCTs. Our study showed that as the threatening nature of SCT stems increased, defensive responses also increased, substantiating the link between psychological threat and defensive behavior. In addition, expert ratings of stem content revealed moderately strong relationships with defensive responses across two different SCTs, irrespective of their structural characteristics. In contrast to previous studies using total verbal defensiveness scores, we examined specific defensive response types and their associations with stem threat ratings, finding that omissions, denial, and comments about the test were linked to stem threat levels. Lastly, our study extends the application of the SCT verbal defensiveness index beyond specialized personnel selection, finding no significant differences in verbal defensiveness based on gender or military status. Overall, these findings contribute to a comprehensive understanding of defensive behavior and its contextual variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the relationship between peritraumatic dissociation, hardiness, and military performance in Norwegian Navy officer cadets (N = 80) after a simulated prisoner of war (POW) exercise. The cadets reported symptoms of peritraumatic amnesia, depersonalization, and derealization in response to a mild stress experience (time point 1] and exhibited a significant increase in such symptoms when subsequently exposed to a highly stressful experience of being placed in a mock POW camp (time point 2). Symptoms of peritraumatic dissociation were significantly and negatively related to performance, and predicted between 16 and 26% of the variance between subjects. A subscale of the personality hardiness measure (i.e. the subdimension of challenge} was negatively associated with peritraumatic dissociation in response to both the mild stress situation and the more stressful POW exercise in study subjects. Hardiness was not significantly associated with military performance scores. The present data indicate that individual differences in attribution style and in a propensity to dissociate significantly affect military performance during exposure to high stress situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context Recently, a growing body of research has provided evidence that dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) is involved in an organism's response to stress and that it may provide beneficial behavioral and neurotrophic effects. Objective To investigate plasma DHEA-S and cortisol levels, psychological symptoms of dissociation, and military performance. Design Prospective study. Setting and Participants Twenty-five healthy subjects enrolled in military survival school. Results The DHEA-S–cortisol ratios during stress were significantly higher in subjects who reported fewer symptoms of dissociation and exhibited superior military performance. Conclusions These data provide prospective, empirical evidence that the DHEA-S level is increased by acute stress in healthy humans and that the DHEA-S–cortisol ratio may index the degree to which an individual is buffered against the negative effects of stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: BackgroundExposure to uncontrollable stress reduces baseline plasma neuropeptide-Y levels in animals. We previously reported that baseline plasma neuropeptide-Y levels, as well as neuropeptide-Y responses to yohimbine, were lower in combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder, but we were unable to determine whether this was attributable to posttraumatic stress disorder or trauma exposure. The current report addresses this issue.: MethodsA) Baseline plasma neuropeptide-Y levels were measured in 8 healthy combat veterans compared to 18 combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and 8 healthy nontraumatized subjects; and B) Baseline plasma neuropeptide-Y levels, trauma exposure, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms were assessed in 41 active military personnel.: ResultsPlasma neuropeptide-Y was negatively associated with trauma exposure but not posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in active duty personnel. Baseline neuropeptide-Y was reduced in combat veterans with and without posttraumatic stress disorder.: ConclusionsTrauma exposure rather than posttraumatic stress disorder is associated with reduced baseline plasma neuropeptide-Y levels. Future studies must determine if neuropeptide-Y reactivity differentiates trauma-exposed individuals with and without posttraumatic stress disorder. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the acute aftermath of exposure to extreme stress, nearly all trauma survivors experience one or more transient symptoms of stress. In the short run, these symptoms may serve an adaptive role and generally remit; in some cases, however, acute stress-related symptoms do not diminish and instead evolve into posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At present it is not clear when and with whom to intervene. On one hand, it is possible that some responses, such as early intrusive memories, effectively recruit support from others and facilitate the psychological processing of trauma; on the other hand, failing to intervene clinically with a recently traumatized individual may permit the subsequent development of PTSD. In this review, we focus on potential pharmacologic interventions aimed at treating early symptoms of extreme arousal or dissociation with the hope of possibly preventing PTSD. To date there is almost no empirical data on effective pharmacologic interventions in the immediate aftermath of extreme psychological trauma. As a result, much of what is discussed in this review is speculative in nature [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: We previously reported that stress-related release of cortisol and neuropeptide-Y (NPY) were significantly and positively associated in U.S. Army soldiers participating in survival training. Furthermore, greater levels of NPY were observed in individuals exhibiting fewer psychologic symptoms of dissociation during stress. This study tested whether these findings would be replicated in a sample of U.S. Navy personnel participating in survival school training.Methods: Psychologic as well as salivary and plasma hormone indices were assessed in 25 active duty personnel before, during, and 24 hours after exposure to U.S. Navy survival school stress.Results: Cortisol and NPY were significantly and positively associated during stress and 24 hours after stress; NPY and norepinephrine (NE) were significantly and positively related during and 24 hours after stress. There was a significant, negative relationship between psychologic distress and NPY release during stress. Finally, psychologic symptoms of dissociation reported at baseline predicted significantly less NPY release during stress.Conclusions: These data replicate our previous studies demonstrating that acute stress elicits NPY release and that this release is positively associated with cortisol and NE release. These data also replicate our previous finding that greater levels of NPY release are associated with less psychologic distress suggesting that NPY confers anxiolytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatized children often present with symptoms of behavioral dyscontrol (aggression, impulsivity, and hyperactivity). There is some symptom overlap between childhood PTSD and the disruptive behavioral spectrum disorders (ADHD, ODD, CD). To date, there are two separate and emerging bodies of literature that describe underlying neurobiological abnormalities in traumatized youth and in youth with conduct disorder/juvenile delinquency. In this article we first review and contrast some of the neurobiological mechanisms associated with disordered arousal (these include basal cortisol and cortisol reactivity to stress, psychophysiological parameters, and catecholamine studies) in each of these two groups. Next, we attempt to integrate some of these neurobiological findings and make recommendations for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses the prevalence of dissociative symptoms in individuals with acute uncontrollable stress during army survival trainings in the United States. Levels of dissociative symptoms in men with post traumatic stress; Difference in dissociative scales of infantry and special forces soldiers.

Objective: Although many people are exposed to trauma, only some individuals develop posttraumatic stress disorder; most do not. It is possible that humans differ in the degree to which stress induces neurobiological perturbations of their threat response systems, which may result in a differential capacity to cope with aversive experiences. This study explored the idea that differences in the neurobiological responses of individuals exposed to threat are significantly related to psychological and behavioral indices.Methods: Individual differences in neurohormonal, psychological, and performance indices among 44 healthy subjects enrolled in US Army survival school were investigated. Subjects were examined before, during, and after exposure to uncontrollable stress.Results: Stress-induced release of cortisol, neuropeptide Y, and norepinephrine were positively correlated; cortisol release during stress accounted for 42% of the variance in neuropeptide Y release during stress. Cortisol also accounted for 22% of the variance in psychological symptoms of dissociation and 31% of the variance in military performance during stress.Conclusions: Because dissociation, abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis, and catecholamine functioning have all been implicated in the development of stress disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder, these data suggest that some biological differences may exist before index trauma exposure and before the development of stress-related illness. The data also imply a relationship among specific neurobiological factors and psychological dissociation. In addition, the data provide clues about the way in which individuals' psychobiological responses to threat differ from one another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses the occurrence of anniversary reactions in Gulf War veterans six years after the conclusion of the war. Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Similar reports obtained from the veterans' spouses; Frequency of anniversary reactions in the medical unit.

Aversive conditioning to explicit and contextual cues was examined in Gulf War veterans with and without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by use of the startle reflex methodology. Veterans participated in a differential aversive conditioning experiment consisting of 2 sessions separated by 4 or 5 days. Each session comprised two startle habituation periods, a preconditioning phase, a conditioning phase, and a postconditioning extinction test. In contrast to the non-PTSD group, the PTSD group showed a lack of differential startle response in the presence of a conditioned stimulus with or without an unconditioned stimulus in Session 1 and an increase in the baseline startle response during Session 2. The PTSD group also exhibited normal differential conditioning following reconditioning in Session 2. These data suggest that individuals with PTSD tend to generalize fear across stimuli and are sensitized by stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study explored the relationship between the Dark Core of personality and the General Factor of Personality (GFP), employing two samples. Sample 1 included 1066 adults from three U.S. universities, assessed with the HEXACO-100 and Short Dark Triad, while Sample 2 comprised 1052 Amazon Mechanical Turk workers, evaluated with Dark Triad measures and the IPIP-NEO-120. We used confirmatory factor analysis, principal component analysis, and principal axis factoring to examine the structure of the GFP and Dark Core and their interrelation. Our findings revealed distinct yet interrelated higher-order structures, with negative correlations characterizing the relationship between the Dark Core and GFP. This study aids in understanding complex personality dynamics, highlighting the need to consider adaptive and maladaptive traits in research. The findings have implications for refining personality models and shed light on the coexistence of constructive and destructive traits in individuals. Future research should further investigate these constructs in diverse samples using multifaceted assessment approaches to deepen our grasp of personality structure and its behavioral impact. • The Dark Core and General Factor of Personality were extracted using PCA and PAF. • The Dark Core and General Factor of Personality were negatively correlated. • Results were consistent across studies, operationalizations, and methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past research suggests that the negative consequences related to exposure to traumatic events and injury may impact cohesive work relationships. Additionally, trauma and low cohesive relationships independently predict poorer psychological and physical health in service members. The objective of the present study was to examine the interrelationships between exposure to traumatic events, burnout, and cohesion among tri-service medical and support staff. Surveys were administered to 253 U.S. Army, Army Reserve Units, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Navy personnel upon arrival in Hawaii for participation in a stressful, 2-week training exercise. Results showed that history of trauma was correlated with poorer view of officers and higher levels on two components of burnout. We discuss how findings can apply to prevention and early intervention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]