Psychophysiological Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Our work currently focuses on examining the relationships between pre-, peri-, and post-traumatic psychophysiological responses to traumatic stress. More specifically, we examine serious motor vehicle accident (MVA) victims at numerous times after their accidents to see if we can determine psychological and physiological indices that predict who may suffer from persistent distress and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In previous pilot work we found that urinary hormone levels (cortisol and norepinephrine) during the accident differ between those victims who suffer longer-term distress and those who do not following their accidents. PTSD symptomatology is positively correlated with urinary norepinephrine levels and negatively correlated with urinary cortisol.  This provides evidence for the hypothesis that certain people may be predisposed to develop PTSD in response to a traumatic situation.  This project received federal funding and is in its second year of data collection.

Steroid Administration and PTSD
Based on our finding that high levels of cortisol in the immediate aftermath of an MVA were protective or buffered subsequent posttraumatic distress, we began examining individuals who have had their cortisol levels exogenously enhanced following a traumatic event.  Patients with suspected C-spine fractures are typically administered a high dose of steroids, and this serves to greatly elevate cortisol levels.  We are currently examining steroid recipients and matched controls to determine whether differences exist in severity of PTSD symptoms between patients who were and were not administered steroids.

Effects of Trauma on Children
Our collaborative research with Akron Children's Hospital parallels our adult research on motor vehicle accident victims. The Children's study prospectively assesses the effects of trauma, specifically isolated accidents, on children and their families. The accident-related reactions of children, ages 8-18, and their parents are assessed, using peri- and post-traumatic psychophysiological measures and interviews of the children, and self-report measures of both children and parents.  Nicole Nugent is examining predictors of PTSD and comorbid disorders in this sample.

Effects of Trauma on Children and their Parents
Under construction

Patterns of Cortisol Secretion in Adolescent Depression
Research examining cortisol secretion in adult populations has consistently demonstrated a number of discrepancies between depressed and non-depressed individuals.  For instance, depressed adults tend to have elevated baseline levels of cortisol, higher than normal evening levels, and earlier morning rise in cortisol.  Because adult depression has generally been believed to be the same disorder as that seen in younger populations, it would be expected that similar results would be found, regardless of age.  However, research examining patterns of cortisol secretion in adolescent depression has met with equivocal results.  It is the belief of this investigator that elevations in baseline cortisol become more prominent with age, and thus, examining levels in a sample of older adolescents would be more likely to reveal expected differences.  Further, such factors as gender and comorbid anxiety also seem affect expected results.  Thus, the present study examines patterns of cortisol secretion in a sample of older adolescents.  Cortisol measures will be examined at various points from baseline, through a series of stressful tasks, and back to baseline.  A number of other potentially influential factors will also be examined (e.g. gender, comorbid anxiety) in order to best make sense of results, as compared between depressed and non-depressed individuals.