Evidence of a Decrease in Heart Rate and Skin Conductance Responses in PTSD Patients After a Single EMDR Session

2008 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphanie Aubert-Khalfa ◽  
Jacques Roques ◽  
Olivier Blin
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Stressful Events ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Psychophysiological Responses ◽  
Skin Conductance Responses ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Trauma Recall ◽  
Emdr Therapy

Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) demonstrate abnormal psychophysiological responses to stressful events. Given that eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy appears to be a treatment of choice for trauma victims, the aim of the present study was to determine if psychophysiological responses to stress decreased after a single EMDR session. Six PTSD patients were treated by an EMDR therapist. Their psychophysiological responses (heart rate and skin conductance) were recorded before and after the EMDR session under two conditions: (a) in a relaxed state and (b) while visualizing their own traumatic event. At the end of the session, all patients had a significant reduction in their PTSD symptoms, which confirms previous results demonstrating the efficacy of the EMDR approach. Second, after only one EMDR session, heart rate and skin conductance during the trauma recall decreased significantly as compared to a relaxing state.

scholarly journals Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy for Handling Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Respondents

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-74
Author(s):  
Eka Susanty ◽  
Setyono Koesno ◽  
Candra Yudhistira ◽  
Lulu Lusianti ◽  
Suprijanto Suprijanto
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Symptom Scale ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Emdr Therapy ◽  
Ptsd Prevalence

EMDR therapy is designed to reduce distress related traumatic event. PTSD prevalence is large enough in Indonesia. It was caused by many natural disasters that happened in several area of Indonesia. However, the application of EMDR for reducing PTSD symptoms was still rare. The objective of this study was to examine the intervention of EMDR therapy in handling PTSD respondents and using a one group pretest-posttest design. There were nine PTSD respondents involved during treatment. EMDR treatments were conducted in four repetitive sessions. Each session was completed in 60-90 minutes. Data was taken using PSS (PTSD Symptom Scale) and tested with Wilcoxon statistical analysis. The statistic test showed (Z = - 2.668; p = .05) with Asymp. Sig. =.008. Descriptive data showed that mean scores before and after therapy are 30.88 and 15.77 respectively. This research concluded that EMDR therapy can work to decrease PTSD symptoms.

scholarly journals Eye Movements Matter, But Why? Psychophysiological Correlates of EMDR Therapy to Treat Trauma in Timor-Leste

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah J. Schubert ◽  
Christopher W. Lee ◽  
Peter D. Drummond
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Eye Movement ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Physiological Activity ◽  
Orienting Response ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Trauma Symptoms ◽  
Conflict Setting ◽  
Timor Leste ◽  
Emdr Therapy

This preliminary study examined the physiological correlates of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy when effectively used to treat trauma symptoms in a postconflict, developing nation, Timor-Leste. Participants were 20 Timorese adults with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms treated with EMDR therapy. PTSD, depression, and anxiety decreased significantly after an average of 4.15 (SD = 2.06) sessions. Continuous measures of heart rate, skin conductance, and respiration were collected during the first and last desensitization sessions. Physiological activity decreased in EMDR desensitization sessions, and eye movement sets were associated with an immediate significant decrease in heart rate and an increase in skin conductance, consistent with an orienting response. This response habituated within and across eye movement sets. These findings suggest that effective EMDR therapy is associated with de-arousal within sessions and that eye movement sets are associated with distinct physiological changes that may aid memory processing. The findings offer insight into the working mechanisms of EMDR when used to treat PTSD symptoms in a real-world, cross-cultural, postwar/conflict setting.

Acute child and mother psychophysiological responses and subsequent PTSD symptoms following a child's traumatic event

2007 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 677-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Ostrowski ◽  
Norman C. Christopher ◽  
Manfred H.M. van Dulmen ◽  
Douglas L. Delahanty
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Psychophysiological Responses

Does Coloring Reduce Anxiety? Comparing the Psychological and Psychophysiological Benefits of Coloring Versus Drawing

2020 ◽  
pp. 027623742092329
Author(s):  
Nicole Turturro ◽  
Jennifer E. Drake
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Emotion Regulation ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia ◽  
Testing Session ◽  
Sinus Arrhythmia ◽  
Negative Thoughts ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Emotion Regulation Strategy ◽  
Anxiety Induction

In this study, we compared the psychological and psychophysiological benefits of coloring to drawing as a means of distraction versus expression. Participants were 60 undergraduates who experienced an anxiety induction. We then randomly assigned them to color a design, draw a design (distract), or draw to express their negative thoughts and feelings. Anxiety was measured before and after the anxiety induction and after drawing. Heart rate, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and skin conductance were measured throughout the testing session. Finally, participants completed a flow and enjoyment questionnaire. All three activities reduced anxiety and decreased heart rate and increased respiratory sinus arrhythmia with no differences across conditions. Those in the draw a design condition enjoyed the activity more than those in the draw to express condition. We conclude that drawing, regardless of emotion regulation strategy used, reduces anxiety but that distracting graphic activities result in more enjoyment.

Psychophysiological Changes following Auditory Subliminal Suggestions for Activation and Deactivation

1983 ◽  
Vol 56 (3) ◽  
pp. 759-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Borgeat ◽  
Jean Goulet
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Multivariate Analysis ◽  
White Noise ◽  
Skin Temperature ◽  
Analysis Of Variance ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Physiological Measures ◽  
Psychophysiological Responses ◽  
Skin Conductance Levels ◽  
Control Situation

This study was to measure eventual psychophysiological changes resulting from auditory subliminal activation or deactivation suggestions. 18 subjects were alternately exposed to a control situation and to 25-dB activating and deactivating suggestions masked by a 40-dB white noise. Physiological measures (EMG, heart rate, skin-conductance levels and responses, and skin temperature) were recorded while subjects listened passively to the suggestions, during a stressing task that followed and after that task. Multivariate analysis of variance showed a significant effect of the activation subliminal suggestions during and following the stressing task. This result is discussed as indicating effects of consciously unrecognized perceptions on psychophysiological responses.

Emotional and psychophysiological responses to tempo, mode, and percussiveness

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjolein D. van der Zwaag ◽  
Joyce H.D.M. Westerink ◽  
Egon L. van den Broek
Keyword(s):  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Emotional State ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Cardiovascular Responses ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Laboratory Setting ◽  
Psychophysiological Responses ◽  
Skin Conductance Responses ◽  
Major Mode ◽  
Musical Characteristics

People often listen to music to influence their emotional state. However, the specific musical characteristics which cause this process are not yet fully understood. We have investigated the influence of the musical characteristics of tempo, mode, and percussiveness on our emotions. In a quest towards ecologically valid results, 32 participants listened to 16 pop and 16 rock songs while conducting an office task. They rated experienced arousal, valence, and tension, while skin conductance and cardiovascular responses were recorded. An increase in tempo was found to lead to an increase in reported arousal and tension and a decrease in heart rate variability. More arousal was reported during minor than major mode songs. Level and frequency of skin conductance responses increased with an increase in percussiveness. Physiological responses revealed patterns that might not have been revealed by self-report. Interaction effects further suggest that musical characteristics interplay in modulating emotions. So, tempo, mode, and percussiveness indeed modulate our emotions and, consequently, can be used to direct emotions. Music presentation revealed subtly different results in a laboratory setting, where music was altered with breaks, from those in a more ecologically valid setting where continuous music was presented. All in all, this enhances our understanding of the influence of music on emotions and creates opportunities seamlessly to tap into listeners’ emotional state through their physiological responses.

Heart rate and skin conductance responses, their temporal integrity and relation to experienced arousal

1997 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Joni Kettunen ◽  
Petri Näätänen ◽  
Arto Ryynänen ◽  
Pertti Keskivaara ◽  
Liisa Keltikangas-Järvinen
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Skin Conductance Responses

Affective Context of Sadness and Physiological Response Patterns

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dmitry M. Davydov ◽  
Emmanuelle Zech ◽  
Olivier Luminet
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Skin Conductance Level ◽  
Pulse Transit Time ◽  
Response Patterns ◽  
Skin Conductance Responses ◽  
Facial Behavior ◽  
Facial Activity ◽  
Negative Feelings

This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that two films that induce a sad feeling would elicit different physiological responses depending on an additional context of the film contents related to either avoidance (disgust) or attachment (tenderness). Reactivity was evaluated for facial behavior, heart rate, pulse transit time, skin conductance, and subjective experience. Participants reported feeling less happy and showed increased facial activity related to the sad content of both films. The sad film related to avoidance induced an increase in skin conductance level and response rate. In contrast, the sad film related to attachment induced a decrease in amplitude of skin conductance responses and heart rate. The study showed that while the common sad content of both films disturbed mood or provoked negative feelings, additional affective contexts induced either a decrease or an increase in physiological arousal.

Psychophysiological Responses During the Anticipation of Emotional Pictures

2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonja Schumacher ◽  
Uwe Herwig ◽  
Volker Baur ◽  
Christoph Mueller-Pfeiffer ◽  
Chantal Martin-Soelch ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Brain Imaging ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Negative Bias ◽  
Imaging Studies ◽  
Psychophysiological Responses ◽  
Emotional Pictures

The present study sought to investigate peripheral physiological responses to the anticipation of explicitly and ambiguously cued emotional pictures. Emotionally positive and negative as well as neutral pictures were presented to 32 healthy subjects. At the beginning of an anticipation period they were cued about the valence of the upcoming picture (neutral, positive, negative, or ambiguous). Skin conductance, heart rate, and zygomaticus and corrugator electromyogram responses were measured during anticipation and perception. Responses specific to the emotional conditions were observed during anticipation as well as during perception. During the anticipation of ambiguously cued pictures, responses were similar to responses elicited by anticipating negative pictures. In line with results from brain imaging studies, peripheral physiological responses could be interpreted to reflect a negative bias for ambiguous events.

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