@article{antonio_posttraumatic_2025,

title = {Posttraumatic stress disorder and Physiological Response in First Responders During Virtual Reality Exposure},

author = {H. António and C. Barros and M. Vieira de Castro and J. Oliveira and P. Gamito and S. Bouchard and R. J. Pinto},

url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105023876769&doi=10.1177%2F21522715251394917&partnerID=40&md5=c3c071b02ee24bd37789dfd06a936fbd},

doi = {10.1177/21522715251394917},

issn = {21522715 (ISSN)},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-01-01},

journal = {Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking},

abstract = {First responders (FRs) are routinely exposed to traumatic events, increasing risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study compared heart rate variability (HRV) and skin conductance level (SCL) between FRs with and without probable PTSD at baseline and during a virtual reality (VR) task. Eighty-four FRs completed questionnaires and physiological assessments. Participants with probable PTSD showed significantly lower baseline HRV, indicating reduced parasympathetic modulation. No group differences emerged for HRV during VR or for SCL at either point. The results confirm reduced HRV at rest in PTSD, but further work is needed to clarify why this difference was not observed during the task and why SCL showed no group effects. To advance understanding of these results, future studies should include larger samples, longer baselines, recovery phases, and clinical interviews. © 2025 Mary Ann Liebert, (NY) LLC.},

keywords = {adult, electrodermal response, Emergency Responders, female, first responders, Galvanic Skin Response, Heart Rate, human, Humans, male, Middle Aged, pathophysiology, physiological response, physiology, Post-Traumatic, posttraumatic stress disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychology, questionnaire, rescue personnel, skin conductance, Stress Disorders, Surveys and Questionnaires, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy, Young Adult},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}