Combat-related flashbacks in posttraumatic stress disorder: phenomenology and similarity to panic attacks. 1985

T A Mellman, and G C Davis

Combat veterans (N = 25) with posttraumatic stress disorder had flashbacks related to their combat stressors, which included major losses and exposure to danger. Certain affects, loud noises, fatigue, and personal stress tended to precipitate flashback episodes. Flashbacks began a year or more after exposure to combat in 50% of patients; 56% of patients experienced daily flashbacks. Flashback phenomenology met DSM-III criteria for panic attacks. The similarity of flashbacks to panic attacks suggests treatment trials with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or imipramine for these selected symptoms.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007099 Imipramine The prototypical tricyclic antidepressant. It has been used in major depression, dysthymia, bipolar depression, attention-deficit disorders, agoraphobia, and panic disorders. It has less sedative effect than some other members of this therapeutic group. Imidobenzyle,Imizin,4,4'-Methylenebis(3-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid)-3-(10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo(b,f)azepin-5-yl)-N,N-dimethyl-1-propanamine (1:2),Imipramine Hydrochloride,Imipramine Monohydrochloride,Imipramine Pamoate,Janimine,Melipramine,Norchlorimipramine,Pryleugan,Tofranil
D008297 Male Males
D008568 Memory Complex mental function having four distinct phases: (1) memorizing or learning, (2) retention, (3) recall, and (4) recognition. Clinically, it is usually subdivided into immediate, recent, and remote memory.
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D008996 Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors A chemically heterogeneous group of drugs that have in common the ability to block oxidative deamination of naturally occurring monoamines. (From Gilman, et al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p414) MAO Inhibitor,MAO Inhibitors,Reversible Inhibitors of Monoamine Oxidase,Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor,RIMA (Reversible Inhibitor of Monoamine Oxidase A),Reversible Inhibitor of Monoamine Oxidase,Inhibitor, MAO,Inhibitor, Monoamine Oxidase,Inhibitors, MAO,Inhibitors, Monoamine Oxidase
D010200 Panic A state of extreme acute, intense anxiety and unreasoning fear accompanied by disorganization of personality function. Panics
D010468 Perceptual Disorders Cognitive disorders characterized by an impaired ability to perceive the nature of objects or concepts through use of the sense organs. These include spatial neglect syndromes, where an individual does not attend to visual, auditory, or sensory stimuli presented from one side of the body. Hemispatial Neglect,Hemisensory Neglect,Sensory Neglect,Somatosensory Discrimination Disorder,Discrimination Disorder, Somatosensory,Discrimination Disorders, Somatosensory,Hemisensory Neglects,Hemispatial Neglects,Neglect, Hemisensory,Neglect, Hemispatial,Neglect, Sensory,Neglects, Hemisensory,Perceptual Disorder,Sensory Neglects,Somatosensory Discrimination Disorders
D003130 Combat Disorders Neurotic reactions to unusual, severe, or overwhelming military stress. Neuroses, War,War Neuroses,Combat Neuroses,Combat Neurosis,Combat Stress Disorders,Shell Shock,War Neurosis,Combat Disorder,Combat Stress Disorder,Disorder, Combat,Disorder, Combat Stress,Disorders, Combat,Disorders, Combat Stress,Neuroses, Combat,Neurosis, Combat,Neurosis, War,Shell Shocks,Shock, Shell,Shocks, Shell,Stress Disorder, Combat,Stress Disorders, Combat
D003702 Delusions A false belief regarding the self or persons or objects outside the self that persists despite the facts, and is not considered tenable by one's associates. Delusion
D005239 Fear The affective response to an actual current external danger which subsides with the elimination of the threatening condition. Threat Cues,Threat Sensitivity,Cue, Threat,Fears,Sensitivity, Threat,Threat Cue,Threat Sensitivities

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