It seems very difficult for human studies to either prevent or control for these potential sources of variance in later adaptive functioning. So aside from the clinical difficulties of possible emotional differences in trauma victims, there may be coincident differences in subjects' physical ability to perceive or recover from stress. This may remain an open empirical question for some time. But, if this view is right, one implication for outcome research is that immediate psychophysiological measures might not be sensitive to effective trauma treatments if they are just measuring the permanently altered initial limbic response. I think that is a great idea.
Comments are most welcome.