Which symptom of PTSD can include an elevated startle response?

Hypervigilance is a key symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that includes an elevated startle response. In individuals with PTSD, hypervigilance refers to an enhanced state of sensory sensitivity and an exaggerated alertness to potential dangers, which can lead to a heightened startle reflex. This symptom often manifests as a heightened awareness of the environment and an intense, continuous scanning for threats, which is a natural response to past trauma.

Emotional blunting, on the other hand, refers to a reduced emotional responsiveness, making it less likely that an individual would display an elevated startle response linked to feelings or environmental stimuli.

While sleep disturbances are common in PTSD, they do not typically feature an elevated startle response directly as a symptom.

Thus, the choice indicating both hypervigilance and emotional blunting is accurate because hypervigilance clearly illustrates the heightened startle response characteristic of PTSD.