Dondzilo L, Grafton B, Zaffino J, MacLeod C. The independent roles of attentional engagement with, and disengagement from, negative information in intrusive re-experiencing of negative events.
J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 2022;
75:101722. [PMID:
34953367 DOI:
10.1016/j.jbtep.2021.101722]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Intrusive re-experiencing of negative events represents a key vulnerability factor for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Thus, delineating attentional mechanisms that might contribute to key facets of intrusive re-experiencing would be highly advantageous. The present study sought to evaluate the novel hypothesis that biased attentional engagement and disengagement differentially contribute to two central facets of intrusive re-experiencing, frequency and controllability, respectively.
METHODS
One hundred undergraduates were exposed to an acutely negative event, followed by completion of an attentional task that permitted the discrete assessment of biased attentional engagement with, and biased attentional disengagement from, negative vs. non-negative information. Intrusions concerning this negative event were assessed daily, for the subsequent seven days, by means of an electronic diary.
RESULTS
Results revealed that enhanced attentional engagement with negative vs. non-negative information predicted unique variance in intrusion frequency, whereas impaired attentional disengagement from negative vs. non-negative information predicted unique variance in intrusion controllability. These intrusion-linked patterns of attentional selectivity were evident at shorter (500 ms) stimulus exposure durations only, and not at longer (1000 ms) stimulus exposure durations.
LIMITATIONS
The current study did not assess attentional selectivity prior to the negative event. Additionally, a time-based approach, rather than an event-based approach, was employed in the assessment of intrusions.
CONCLUSIONS
The current findings suggest that engagement bias and disengagement bias may underpin differing facets of intrusive re-experiencing, raising the possibility that therapeutically targeting each type of attentional bias may attenuate a distinctive aspect of intrusive re-experiencing.
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