Psychophysiologic Predictors of Post-deployment Mental Health Outcomes

The primary objectives of this proposal are to develop objective pre-deployment predictors of
PTSD and test two pre-deployment resiliency interventions. The objective predictors will be
based on: 1) physiologic reactivity (heart rate, heart rate variability, eye blink startle,
skin conductance) to virtual reality (VR) environments depicting common Operation Iraqi
Freedom (OIF) or Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) combat scenarios and 2) cognitive bias
assessment using a recognition memory paradigm. We hypothesize that a model combining
physiologic reactivity and cognitive bias predictors will be superior to either the
physiologic reactivity or cognitive bias model alone for predicting post-deployment PTSD. We
also will test two pre-deployment resiliency interventions: heart rate variability
biofeedback and cognitive bias modification training that we have designed to target
physiologic and cognitive responses to stress, respectively. We will compare the prevention
interventions to a no intervention control group. We hypothesize that the prevalence of
post-deployment PTSD will be lower in the intervention groups compared to the control group.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Army National Guard members who are scheduled to deploy for OIF/OEF operations within
the next 12 months, age 18 to 60, and willing to provide the name and phone number of
at least one person to help locate the member for the follow-up assessments if
necessary.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Implantable pacemaker or cardiac defibrillator

- Unable to wear a virtual reality headset