This page has most of my publications, which can be downloaded as PDFs. (If you don't know what is meant by "first author" or "peer-reviewed," see below.) The papers with colleagues as first authors were chosen (from a larger number) because I helped to design the studies and/or interpret the findings, not just write the paper, and because I believe the topics and findings are important. Responses to Script-Driven Imagery Scale (RSDI) Hopper JW, Frewen PA, Sack M, Lanius RA, van der Kolk BA. The Responses to Script-Driven Imagery Scale (RSDI): Assessment of state posttraumatic symptoms for psychobiological and treatment research. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 2007; 20:713-725.     This paper introduces a scale developed primarily for research applications. However, parts of the introduction and discussion may be interesting and useful to non-researchers too, because they address the complexity of responses to strong trauma reminders in PTSD, and the limitations of traditional (structured interview) methods for assessing the effectiveness of treatments for PTSD. Brain Imaging Studies of PTSD Hopper JW, Frewen PA, van der Kolk BA, Lanius RA. Neural correlates of reexperiencing, avoidance, and dissociation in PTSD: Symptom dimensions and emotion dysregulation in responses to script-driven trauma imagery. J Trauma Stress 2007; ;22:713-725.     This paper's introduction and discussion sections address the complexity of subjective and brain processes involved in responses to trauma reminders. Thus they may be interesting and useful to people trying to understand (and avoid over-simplification of) the biological dimensions of PTSD and child abuse effects. Lanius RA, Hopper JW, Menon RS. Individual differences in a husband and wife who developed PTSD after a motor vehicle accident: A functional MRI case study. Am J Psychiat 2003; 160:667-669.     This short paper demonstrates that people can have very different responses, including brain responses, to the same traumatic event. The findings also suggest that the functional significance of a response is the key to understanding the brain processes involved, rather than any particular diagnosis the person can be given. Lanius RA, Williamson PC, Hopper JW, Boksman K, Densmore M, Gupta MA, Neufeld RWJ, Gati JS, Menon R. Recall of emotional states in posttraumatic stress disorder: An fMRI investigation. Biol Psychiatry 2003; 53:204-210.     The findings reported in this paper suggests a major limitation of biological models of PTSD that focus exclusively on fear and leave out the full range of human emotions and emotional processes that may be altered. 'Reward Function' in in PTSD Hopper JW, Pitman RK,... Elman IE. Probing reward function in posttraumatic stress disorder: Expectancy and satisfaction with monetary gains and losses. J Psychiatry Res 2008; 42:802-807.     This study (like other work by my colleague Igor Elman) suggests that PTSD can involve impairment of the brain's "reward circuitry." This circuitry underlies our capacities to expect, pursue, and enjoy potentially rewarding experiences, thus such impairments may partly account for the "emotional numbing" symptoms of PTSD. The Nature of Traumatic Memories and How to Assess Them Hopper JW, van der Kolk BA. Retrieving, assessing, and classifying traumatic memories: A preliminary report on three case studies of a new standardized method. J Aggression, Maltreatment, Trauma 2001; 4:33-71. van der Kolk BA, Hopper JW, Osterman JE. Exploring the nature of traumatic memory: Combining clinical knowledge with laboratory methods. J Aggression, Maltreatment, Trauma 2001; 4:9-31. Parasympathetic Branch of the Autonomic Nervous System in PTSD Hopper JW, Spinazzola J, Simpson WB, van der Kolk BA. Preliminary evidence for parasympathetic influence on basal heart rate in posttraumatic stress disorder. J Psychosom Res 2006; 60:83-90. Sack M, Hopper JW, Lamprecht F. Low respiratory sinus arrhythmia and prolonged psychophysiological arousal in PTSD: Heart rate dynamics and individual differences in arousal regulation. Biol Psychiatry 2004; 55:284-290. Child Abuse and Perpetration of Violence in Males Lisak D, Hopper J, Song P. Factors in the cycle of violence: Gender rigidity and emotional constriction. J Trauma Stress 1996; 9:721-743. Ecological Momentary Assessment or Experience Sampling in Substance Abuse Research Hopper JW, Su Z, Looby AR, Ryan ET, Penetar DM, Palmer CM, Lukas SE. Incidence and patterns of polydrug use and craving for ecstasy in regular ecstasy users: An ecological momentary assessment study. Drug Alcohol Depend 2006; 85:221-235. What "peer-reviewed" means: I submitted the manuscripts to editors of specific journals, who then sent them to anonymous reviewers, who, along with the editors, provided feedback and suggestions (or demands) for specific changes that were incorporated into the final published version (or otherwise addressed, e.g., rebutted or issue clarified in resubmission letters to editors). This peer review process ensures "quality control" in the scientific enterprise, though it can also hinder or prevent the publication of ideas and findings that challenge the conventional wisdom. For papers where I'm first in the author list, I did most of the work of writing the paper. In most cases where I'm "first author," I designed the study, supervised its implementation (e.g., participant recruitment, data collection, data analysis, etc.), and interpreted the findings. However, science is always a team effort, and in every case my co-authors played important roles too. This page is maintained by Jim Hopper, Ph.D., as are these related pages: Child Abuse: Statistics, Research & Resources Mindfulness: An Inner Resource for Healing from Child Abuse Sexual Abuse of Males: Prevalence, Lasting Effects, and Resources Recovered Memories of Sexual Abuse: Scientific Research & Scholarly Resources Jim Hopper www.jimhopper.com jhopper * jimhopper99.com [replace * with @ and remove numbers] Page last updated 12/20/2007