Brain Inj 2001 Oct;15(10):879-89

Amnesia, neuroendocrine levels and PTSD in motor vehicle accident victims.

Flesher MR, Delahanty DL, Raimonde AJ, Spoonster E.

Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To examine the initial neuroendocrine responses and subsequent PTSD symptomatology among amnesic and non-amnesic victims of motor vehicle accidents. It was hypothesized that amnesic patients would be less likely to meet PTSD criteria at 1 month follow-up and would display lower catechalomine levels and higher basal cortisol than non-amnesics. METHODS AND PROCEDURE: Fifteen-hour urinary hormone samples were collected from 70 MVA victims upon hospital admission. Participants were assessed for PTSD symptomatology 1 month later. Main outcomes and results: Amnesic patients displayed lower NE/cortisol ratios than non-amnesics, were less likely than non-amnesics to develop PTSD, and displayed fewer PTSD symptoms than non-amnesics. CONCLUSIONS: Amnesics may physiologically experience a motor vehicle accident differently from non-amnesics and have lower subsequent PTSD incidence. These results provide partial support for the hypothesis that amnesia for a traumatic event can serve as a buffering function in the development of subsequent PTSD among MVA victims.