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  • Title: Peritraumatic tonic immobility is associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms in undergraduate Brazilian students.
    Author: Portugal LC, Pereira MG, Alves Rde C, Tavares G, Lobo I, Rocha-Rego V, Marques-Portella C, Mendlowicz MV, Coutinho ES, Fiszman A, Volchan E, Figueira I, Oliveira Ld.
    Journal: Braz J Psychiatry; 2012 Mar; 34(1):60-5. PubMed ID: 22392390.
    Abstract:
    OBJECTIVE: Tonic immobility is a defensive reaction occurring under extreme life threats. Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reporting peritraumatic tonic immobility show the most severe symptoms and a poorer response to treatment. This study investigated the predictive value of tonic immobility for posttraumatic stress symptoms in a non-clinical sample. METHODS: One hundred and ninety-eight college students exposed to various life threatening events were selected to participate. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist - Civilian Version (PCL-C) and tonic immobility questions were used. Linear regression models were fitted to investigate the association between peritraumatic tonic immobility and PCL-C scores. Peritraumatic dissociation, peritraumatic panic reactions, negative affect, gender, type of trauma, and time since trauma were considered as confounding variables. RESULTS: We found significant association between peritraumatic tonic immobility and PTSD symptoms in a non-clinical sample exposed to various traumas, even after regression controlled for confounding variables (β = 1.99, p = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: This automatic reaction under extreme life threatening stress, although adaptive for defense, may have pathological consequences as implied by its association with PTSD symptoms.
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