Magnitude and duration of cardiovascular responses to anger in Vietnam veterans with and without posttraumatic stress disorder.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

This study investigated the cardiovascular responses to a relived anger task in 118 male Vietnam combat veterans (62 with posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] and 56 without PTSD). Participants completed standardized diagnostic measures, hostility measures, and a laboratory session in which they relived a self-chosen anger memory while heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured continuously using an Ohmeda Finapres monitor. Compared with veterans without PTSD, PTSD veterans took less time to feel anger, had greater mean HR and DBP response during relived anger, and reported greater anger and anxiety during the task. There was a significant relationship between covert hostility and anger response, during and after the anger task only in participants with PTSD.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Beckham, JC; Vrana, SR; Barefoot, JC; Feldman, ME; Fairbank, J; Moore, SD

Published Date

  • February 2002

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 70 / 1

Start / End Page

  • 228 - 234

PubMed ID

  • 11860049

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 0022-006X

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1037//0022-006x.70.1.228

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States