Table 2.
Psychophysiological correlates of avoidance symptoms
| Avoidance symptoms | Response to danger cue |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SCR (μs) |
RSA (HF-HRV) |
|||
| Avoid thoughts/feelings | r = −0.36 | P = 0.0001*** | r = 0.13 | ns |
| Avoid activities/situations/places | r = −0.25 | P = 0.009** | r = −0.16 | ns |
| Can’t recall important aspects | r = −0.09 | ns | r = 0.08 | ns |
| Loss of interest in activities | r = −0.30 | P = 0.002** | r = 0.52 | P = 0.01* |
| Detached/cut-off from others | r = −0.25 | P = 0.01* | r = 0.48 | P = 0.02* |
| Impaired range of emotions | r = −0.14 | ns | r = 0.21 | ns |
| Changed future plans/hopes | r = −0.23 | P = 0.02* | r = 0.09 | ns |
Note: SCR and RSA were collected during a fear-conditioning session. The symptoms (as assessed with the PSS) are correlated with responses during presentation of the danger cue, ie, the reinforced conditioned stimulus (CS+).
Abbreviations: SCR, skin conductance response; RSA, respiratory sinus arrhythmia; HF-HRV, high-frequency heart-rate variability.