Odor-induced EEG changes in PTSD Vietnam veterans

✍ Scribed by Robert J. McCaffrey; Tyler S. Lorig; Deanna L. Pendrey; N. Bruce McCutcheon; James C. Garrett

• Book ID: 102926798
• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 588 KB
• Volume: 6
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0894-9867
• DOI: 10.1002/jts.2490060205

✦ Synopsis

Electroencephalogram (EEG) changes in response to trauma and non-traumarelated odors were examined in five Vietnam veterans with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and in five Vietnam veterans with adjustment-related problems (non-PTSD

). Period analysis of the EEG indicated that the odors differentially affected the PTSD group's theta and alpha activity compared to the non-PTSD group. The greatest EEG and self-report odor and PTSD effects were found in response to a trauma odor which simrilated burning flesh. These findings have important implicatioiis in the detection of veterans who attempt to feign deliberately the psychophysiological response pattern associated with PTSD.