Post Abduction Syndrome (PAS)
Description of an Emerging Syndrome
Proposed by Rose Hargrove, RN, and David M.
Jacobs, Ph.D.
February
14, 2000
This proposal of a new and emerging syndrome will attempt to define
the cluster of
symptoms and behaviors that develop in some individuals in response
to the alien
abduction phenomenon.
Post
Abduction Syndrome (PAS) (Westrum, 1986) is an anxiety disorder that is closely
related to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (APA, 1994). It is characterized by
the re-experiencing- of abduction related memories, fragments, or distortions
of those memories and is accompanied by symptoms of increased anxiety and by
avoidance of stimuli related to abduction memories or abduction related events.
The affected person may experience levels of anxiety that interfere with functioning
in personal, occupational, or social areas.
Diagnostic Features
The
requisite feature of Post Abduction Syndrome is the development of distinctive symptomatology
in relation to the experience of the alien abduction phenomenon which is often ongoing
in contrast to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder or Acute Stress Disorder (APA,
1994) where the stressor is usually a discrete and time limited occurrence that
is not repeated in the individual's lifetime.
PAS in most instances is the result
of the sense or memory of being taken away by force or without consent by extraterrestrial
or inter-dimensional entities and the associated physically intrusive or invasive procedures
by these alleged entities. The Abductee will have a perceived fear of actual or
threatened death, serious injury (APA, 1994), threat to their physical
integrity. They may witness the abduction of another person, may learn about or
have close association with the abduction experiences of a family member or other
closely associated person. The person's response to the events must involve
intense fear, helplessness, or horror (APA, 1994). In a child or adult with
underdeveloped personality structure, the response may manifest as disorganized
or agitated behaviors.
Characteristic Symptoms
Persistent
re-experiencing of the traumatic event characterized by flashbacks (APA, 1994)
Persistent
avoidance of stimuli associated with the trauma (APA, 1994)
Denial
of the event
Labeling
the event something else-"blackout", being lost, etc.
Phobic
avoidance of areas or situations where contact occurred.
Refraining
from sleep at the time contact occurred-sleeping in the daytime
Emotional
reaction to literature, pictures, or videos about alien entities e.g. turning
over books with a picture of an alien or UFO which may include avoiding them.
(Bryant, 1991)
Numbing
of emotions and responsiveness characterized by inability to feel intimacy,
pleasure, or to express emotions-emotional anesthesia. (APA, 1994, Bryant,1991)
Diminished
interest or less participation in previously enjoyed activities. (APA, 1994)
May
have a sense of foreshortened future -no expectation of normal life events or
normal life span. (APA, 1994)
May
fear abduction with no return or lengthy abduction.
Anxiety
symptoms that persist-hypervigilance, exaggerated startle response,
irritability, and panic attacks (APA, 1994)
Note:
PAS differs from PTSD in that as the abductions may have occurred since early
childhood it is difficult to determine precisely when the trauma began as in
PTSD where [in which]? there is a discrete and identifiable traumatic event.
Anxiety symptoms include but are not limited to:(APA, 1994)
Sleep
disturbances -- difficulty falling or staying asleep Hyper vigilance
Exaggerated startle response Sleepwalking Vivid nightmares Panic attacks Alien
phobia Restlessness Worry and rumination.
Difficulty concentrating
Duration
of the symptoms is longer than one month
Specifiers-The
specifiers may be used to specify the onset and duration(APA, 1994).
Acute:
This specifier should be used when the symptoms are present for less than three
months.
Chronic:
This specifier should be used when the symptoms last three months or longer.
Delayed
Onset: This specifier would indicate that at least six months have passed
between the traumatic event and the onset of remembered symptoms.
Associated Features and Disorders
In
contrast to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder where survivor guilt may be present,
there may be guilt at being different, or of contributing to the factors that
cause the abductions to occur either to the subject or to family members.
The following manifestations of PAS may present:
Reluctance
to enter into relationships
Phobic
avoidance of situations that remind the person of abduction such as: elevators,
escalators, doctor's offices, physician's procedures (many women avoid
gynecological exams or become extremely anxious when gynecological procedures are performed),
dentist's chairs and procedures. (Jacobs, 1992)
Persons
with PAS may engage in avoidance of medical care to the detriment of their
health.
Avoidance
of pictures and or books about UFOs and aliens
Marital
or relationship problems such as: guilt at the possible involvement of their
partner feelings of anger and resentment by partner regarding the
sexual/gynecological aspects of abduction and/or feelings of guilt by partner
related to inability to protect the abductee. (Jacobs, 1992)
Parents
may experience guilt and anger at the possible involvement of their children or
grandchildren.
Occupational
difficulties-may have loss of job due to constant obsession with remembered
abductions activity and level of PAS symptomatology. (conversation, Jacobs,
1999)
Self
destructive and impulsive behaviors Social withdrawal Personality changes Panic
disorders Agoraphobia Obsessive-compulsive Disorder or repetitive behaviors or
rituals Depression Somatization Disorder Substance Abuse/Dependence in an
effort to self medicate to reduce anxiety or sleep which may start at an early
age Constant searching for answers to questions they may not be able to
voice( conversation, Jacobs, 1999) Abductees may feel some part of their psyche
is alienated from itself due to inaccessibility of memory of abduction experiences
or partial or distorted memory of abduction.
Some remedies abductees may employ are:
Joining
fundamentalist religious groups (Bryant, 1991) New Age spiritual groups
Self-help programs Altered states therapies Repeatedly returning to areas where
abductions occurred (Bryant, 1991) The person may develop an obsessive interest
in aliens and UFOs. (Bryant, 1991) The person may seek help from the psychotherapeutic
community only to be labeled as mentally ill. (Jacobs, 1992).
Evaluation of PAS
Suggested
laboratory tests (APA, 1994) Serum glucose, calcium, phosphate levels, thyroid
studies and electrocardiogram Urinary catecholamine levels may help exclude
other disorders Urine drug screen may be useful.
Examination Findings
Insomnia,
trembling, muscle aches and soreness, muscle twitches, clammy hands, dry mouth,
generalized tachycardia and subjective sense of palpitations, dizziness,
hyperventilation or difficulty breathing, urinary frequency, dysphagia,
abdominal pain, diarrhea, possible hypertension, in females gynecological problems,
possible positive pregnancy tests with unexplainable missing fetuses,
unexplainable appearance of strange lesions, scars, bruises, or burns
(especially genital) (conversation, Jacobs, 1999), abdominal tenderness,
abdominal adhesions, malposition of ovaries, joint or back pain without memory
of physical injury, sinus problems, and possible eye irritations.
Specific Culture and Age Features
Young
children may vividly recall monsters who come into their bedroom at night.
Children, adolescents, and adults may develop fear of going to bed at night and
fear sleeping in their own bedroom. (conversation, Jacobs, 1999).
Children might express their abduction experiences in their art work
or style of play. (Bryant, 1991). Children also might express the
fear that they might be taken away from their parents by the aliens.
There exists also the real possibility the children could be taken
from their parents by social service agencies if parents openly
divulge their own abduction experiences. Often children report that
they have been told by the aliens that the aliens are their real
parents. (This has been frequently reported by children and adults
re-experiencing childhood memories and in fact may be a ploy to gain
the child's cooperation as children of a young age are more
difficult for the aliens to control.) (conversation, Jacobs, 1999).
Children might harbor the belief that they will not grow up to be
adults. Children might also be exposed to witnessing the abduction
of their parents generating feelings of shock, intense fear, and
anger that their parents are unable to protect them. They may also
harbor the belief that they in some way caused their parents or
siblings to be abducted. Children may grow up with a strong sense
that they do not belong there and that the earth is not their "real"
home, or that one or both of their parents are not biologically
related to them. (conversation, Jacobs, 1999).
It
would be difficult to assess cultural variables as this phenomenon has not been
studied in mainstream psychology and in the Western World persons who report
their abduction activity are usually regarded as having psychopathology
(Jacobs, 1992). [For] [In the case of omit?] indigenous peoples, abduction reports
are regarded as a sign of contact with the spirit world or magical phenomena.
Course
PAS
may occur at any age and the length of the disorder may vary from three to six
months to several years. The frequency of abductions and the variable of
conscious memory of abductions may influence severity and resolution. The
disorder can develop and often does in the absence of other psychopathology.
Treatment
Reduction
of anxiety and treatment of depression are primary considerations. In those
individuals for whom denial is not essential for the maintenance of a
functional lifestyle restoration of memory may lead to normalization of their lifestyle.
Hypnotic
regression must be approached with great caution utilizing appropriate
screening and with an attempt to minimize confabulation (Jacobs,1992).
Currently hypnotic regression with a competent hypnotist/therapist/researcher
is the method of choice (conversation, Jacobs, 1999).
A
support system is an essential factor in the resolution of PAS.
Individuals
with frequent and intense abduction activity may approach normalization,
however when activity is intense symptoms of PAS may increase (Jacobs, 1992).
An
important factor is sleep. Sleep disorders are a common occurrence in the
abductee population caused by sleep phobia and very active abduction activity.
Sleep deprivation when prolonged can result in decreased serotonin levels
predisposing the person to clinical depression and compromise of the immune
system (conversation, Jacobs, 1999).
Prevalence
Most
abductees are unaware of their abductions and those with partial awareness
regard their experiences as spiritual or occult phenomena. In the population of
abductees that are aware of or suspect that abductions are occurring, some will
regard their experiences as spiritual events and another portion of abductees
will view their experiences as traumatic and a portion of those will develop
clinical symptoms of PAS.
Bibliography
American
Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Fourth Edition, Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric Association, 1994.
Posttraumatic
Stress Disorders: A Handbook For Clinicians. Edited by Tom Williams Psy.D.
Cincinnati: Disabled American Veterans, 1987.
Healing
Shattered Reality: Understanding Contactee Trauma. Alice Bryant and Linda
Seebach, M.S.W. Tigard, OR: Wildflower Press, 1991.
Secret
Life: Firsthand Accounts of UFO Abductions. David M. Jacobs, Ph.D. New York:
Simon & Schuster, 1992.
The
Threat. David M. Jacobs Ph.D. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998.
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