Which of the following is NOT a symptom of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder associated with increased autonomic nervous system functions?

Emotional dysregulation is the correct choice as it is not exclusively linked to increased autonomic nervous system functions. While individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may experience challenges in regulating their emotions, emotional dysregulation primarily pertains to difficulties in managing and responding to one’s emotional experiences rather than having direct ties to autonomic arousal, which is typically characterized by physiological responses.

In contrast, hypervigilance, an intensified startle response, and tachycardia are all clearly connected to the heightened state of alertness and physiological arousal seen in PTSD. Hypervigilance refers to an almost constant state of alertness and scanning for threats, which is closely tied to autonomic activation. An intensified startle response reflects a robust sympathetic nervous system reaction to unexpected stimuli, while tachycardia, an increased heart rate, indicates heightened autonomic arousal. Together, these symptoms illustrate the physiological manifestations of PTSD as they relate to the functioning of the autonomic nervous system.