Sex difference in the role of acute catecholamines in subsequent PTSD

A potentially traumatic event, such as a motor vehicle accident (MVA), can result in subsequent PTSD. When confronted with severe threat, the sympathetic adrenal medullary (SAM) system releases the catecholamines epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine to trigger a hyperarousal response, commonly referred to as the fight-or-flight response. However, most research has been based on men and male<br/>animals, and little is known about how sex differences in the acute trauma response influence symptom development. We have<br/>previously suggested that men may be more likely to develop PTSD through a hyperarousal pathway, whereas a hypoarousal pathway<br/>(characterised by low catecholamine levels, low heart rate, and possibly dissociation) may be more likely to cause PTSD in women. <br/>The purpose of the present pilot study was to examine sex differences in the acute<br/>trauma response to serious accidents and their impact on subsequent PTSD. We<br/>hypothesised that sex moderates the role of the acute stress response in the<br/>development of PTSD symptoms, with acute catecholamine levels being positively<br/>associated with PTSD symptoms in men, but negatively associated with PTSD<br/>symptoms in women.