Stress reactivity during short trauma narratives in adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD
Background: Psychophysiological dysregulations and negative alterations in cognitions and mood characterize post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (C-PTSD), contributing to an increased risk of disorder persistence and chronic health problems. However, understanding the differences i...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2025.2532273 |
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| author | Oswald D. Kothgassner Sarah Macura Andreas Goreis Diana Klinger Bettina Pfeffer Sofia M. Oehlke Karin Prillinger Johanna X. Kafka Heidi Elisabeth Zesch Anna Felnhofer Paul L. Plener |
| author_facet | Oswald D. Kothgassner Sarah Macura Andreas Goreis Diana Klinger Bettina Pfeffer Sofia M. Oehlke Karin Prillinger Johanna X. Kafka Heidi Elisabeth Zesch Anna Felnhofer Paul L. Plener |
| author_sort | Oswald D. Kothgassner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Psychophysiological dysregulations and negative alterations in cognitions and mood characterize post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (C-PTSD), contributing to an increased risk of disorder persistence and chronic health problems. However, understanding the differences in physiological stress reactivity and negative cognitive-emotional patterns between adolescents with PTSD and C-PTSD remains a notable research gap.Objective: This study examined group differences in autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity during the sharing of a short trauma narrative, including resting and recovery phases, and compared subjective experiences of stress, shame, and guilt among adolescents with PTSD, C-PTSD, and trauma-exposed controls.Methods: In a repeated-measures design, 52 adolescents (14–18 years) with PTSD (n = 17), C-PTSD (n = 18), and a control group (n = 17) were assessed for heart rate, heart rate variability, and subjective experiences of stress, shame, and guilt during a standardized trauma interview, as well as during baseline and recovery phases.Results: Linear mixed-effects models revealed a significant interaction between group and time point (F = 4.134, p < .001). The C-PTSD group exhibited a significantly higher heart rate in the recovery phase compared to the PTSD (p = .010) and control groups (p = .036), alongside significantly higher subjective stress, guilt, and shame experiences. Main effects of group were identified for perceived stress (F = 7.543, p = .002), guilt (F = 21.779, p < .001), and shame (F = 19.309, p < .001), with the C-PTSD group exhibiting higher levels compared to PTSD and control groups across all conditions.Conclusions: Prolonged stress responses and elevated experiences of shame and guilt in adolescents with C-PTSD align with the diagnostic criteria of affective dysregulation and negative self-concept. Objective stress measures during trauma interviews may support the diagnosis of C-PTSD. Findings highlight the importance of phase-based trauma therapies that target emotional dysregulation, shame, and guilt. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6d0a0678136942c9a0463ba1f81f2baa |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj-art-6d0a0678136942c9a0463ba1f81f2baa2025-08-20T03:37:08ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662025-12-0116110.1080/20008066.2025.2532273Stress reactivity during short trauma narratives in adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSDOswald D. Kothgassner0Sarah Macura1Andreas Goreis2Diana Klinger3Bettina Pfeffer4Sofia M. Oehlke5Karin Prillinger6Johanna X. Kafka7Heidi Elisabeth Zesch8Anna Felnhofer9Paul L. Plener10Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaComprehensive Center for Pediatrics (CCP), Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaDepartment of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, AustriaBackground: Psychophysiological dysregulations and negative alterations in cognitions and mood characterize post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (C-PTSD), contributing to an increased risk of disorder persistence and chronic health problems. However, understanding the differences in physiological stress reactivity and negative cognitive-emotional patterns between adolescents with PTSD and C-PTSD remains a notable research gap.Objective: This study examined group differences in autonomic nervous system (ANS) reactivity during the sharing of a short trauma narrative, including resting and recovery phases, and compared subjective experiences of stress, shame, and guilt among adolescents with PTSD, C-PTSD, and trauma-exposed controls.Methods: In a repeated-measures design, 52 adolescents (14–18 years) with PTSD (n = 17), C-PTSD (n = 18), and a control group (n = 17) were assessed for heart rate, heart rate variability, and subjective experiences of stress, shame, and guilt during a standardized trauma interview, as well as during baseline and recovery phases.Results: Linear mixed-effects models revealed a significant interaction between group and time point (F = 4.134, p < .001). The C-PTSD group exhibited a significantly higher heart rate in the recovery phase compared to the PTSD (p = .010) and control groups (p = .036), alongside significantly higher subjective stress, guilt, and shame experiences. Main effects of group were identified for perceived stress (F = 7.543, p = .002), guilt (F = 21.779, p < .001), and shame (F = 19.309, p < .001), with the C-PTSD group exhibiting higher levels compared to PTSD and control groups across all conditions.Conclusions: Prolonged stress responses and elevated experiences of shame and guilt in adolescents with C-PTSD align with the diagnostic criteria of affective dysregulation and negative self-concept. Objective stress measures during trauma interviews may support the diagnosis of C-PTSD. Findings highlight the importance of phase-based trauma therapies that target emotional dysregulation, shame, and guilt.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2025.2532273Post traumatic stressheart rateautonomic dysregulationshametrauma narrativeEstrés postraumático |
| spellingShingle | Oswald D. Kothgassner Sarah Macura Andreas Goreis Diana Klinger Bettina Pfeffer Sofia M. Oehlke Karin Prillinger Johanna X. Kafka Heidi Elisabeth Zesch Anna Felnhofer Paul L. Plener Stress reactivity during short trauma narratives in adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD European Journal of Psychotraumatology Post traumatic stress heart rate autonomic dysregulation shame trauma narrative Estrés postraumático |
| title | Stress reactivity during short trauma narratives in adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD |
| title_full | Stress reactivity during short trauma narratives in adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD |
| title_fullStr | Stress reactivity during short trauma narratives in adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stress reactivity during short trauma narratives in adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD |
| title_short | Stress reactivity during short trauma narratives in adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD |
| title_sort | stress reactivity during short trauma narratives in adolescents with post traumatic stress disorder ptsd and complex ptsd |
| topic | Post traumatic stress heart rate autonomic dysregulation shame trauma narrative Estrés postraumático |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/20008066.2025.2532273 |
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