Study Overview
| Authors | Grasser L.R., Saad B., Bazzi C., Wanna C., Abu Suhaiban H., Mammo D., Jovanovic T., Javanbakht A. |
| Institution | Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, USA |
| Journal | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| Year | 2022 |
| DOI | 10.1080/20008198.2022.2083375 |
| PubMed | PMC9196716 |
| Product | eSense Skin Response |
| Participants | 86 refugee youth from Syria and Iraq |
What was investigated?
Researchers at Wayne State University School of Medicine investigated whether skin conductance response (SCR) during a structured trauma interview could serve as a physiological biomarker for trauma-related psychopathology in refugee youth. The focus was on whether the extent of trauma exposure and PTSD symptom clusters — such as re-experiencing and hyperarousal — are associated with measurable autonomic stress responses. At the same time, the researchers examined whether an affordable mobile measurement method is practical for use in both home environments and clinical laboratories.
Methods
86 refugee youth from Syria and Iraq participated in the cross-sectional study (50 male, 36 female; ages 7–17; mean age 12.4 years), who had been resettled in Southeast Michigan for at least one year. Measurements were deliberately conducted in two different environments: at home for 31 participants and in the laboratory for 55 — a direct test of practicality under different conditions. Trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (self-report). Physiological measurement was conducted during a baseline phase and continuously throughout the entire interview.
Mindfield Product in this Study
The researchers used the mobile eSense application by Mindfield Biosystems on iPads. Two Ag/AgCl electrodes with isotonic paste were attached to the middle phalanges of the index and middle fingers of the non-dominant hand. The protocol included a two-minute resting phase for baseline determination, followed by continuous measurement during the trauma interview. Notably, the setup worked equally reliably in both measurement environments — in the participants’ home settings as well as in the clinical laboratory.
Results
The researchers found that skin conductance activity during the trauma interview was significantly higher than during the baseline phase (B = 1.08 μS; t(139) = 5.72; p < 0.001; R² = 0.16). The mean skin conductance level rose from 8.43 μS during the resting phase to 9.52 μS during the interview.
Additional findings:
- A higher degree of trauma exposure was associated with stronger skin conductance responses (R² = 0.084; p = 0.042)
- Elevated physiological responses correlated significantly with the re-experiencing symptom cluster (R² = 0.127; p = 0.028)
- Significant associations were also found for hyperarousal symptoms (R² = 0.123; p = 0.048)
The authors note the limited sample size and cross-sectional design of the study as limitations.
Significance
According to the authors, this is the first study to systematically examine skin conductance responses to trauma interviews in refugee youth. The results provide initial evidence that physiological measurements could support the identification of trauma-related complaints in a particularly vulnerable population — especially where access to specialized psychological resources is limited.
The successful use of the eSense Skin Response in both settings — at home and in the laboratory — demonstrates the broad practical applicability of the device. For research groups and clinicians working with refugee populations, this represents a relevant demonstration of usability under real field conditions.
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