The Sensory Profile of People With Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms

Thirty participants with post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms and 30 healthy controls completed the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale (PSS-SR) and the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP). Participants with PTS symptoms vacillated between sensory sensitivity, sensation avoiding, and low registration. Sensation avoiding and low registration correlated with intrusive thoughts related to PTS. Discriminant Analysis classified 73% of the study group and 80% of the controls. PTS may be related to hypersensitivity and low registration. Further studies about the sensory profile of people with PTS symptoms may contribute to research and optimize evaluation and intervention for people with PTSD.