1
|
Reed J, Meiser-Stedman R, Dalgleish T, Goodall B, Wright I, Boyle A, Burgess A, Murphy F, Hitchcock C, Schweizer S, Travers-Hill E, Dixon C, Mul CL, Smith P, Newby J, McKinnon A. Trauma Memory Characteristics and Neurocognitive Performance in Youth Exposed to Single-Event Trauma. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2024; 52:997-1008. [PMID: 38329684 PMCID: PMC11108885 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-024-01171-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Cognitive models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) highlight characteristics of trauma memories, such as disorganisation, as key mechanisms in the aetiology of the disorder. However, studies investigating trauma memory in youth have provided inconsistent findings. Research has highlighted that PTSD in youth may be accompanied by difficulties in neurocognitive functioning, potentially impacting ability to recall the trauma memory. The present study sought to investigate both trauma memory characteristics and neurocognitive functioning in youth aged 8-17 years. Youths exposed to single-event trauma, with (N = 29, Mage = 13.6, 21 female) and without (N = 40, Mage = 13.3, 21 female) a diagnosis of PTSD, completed self-report measures of trauma memory, a narrative memory task and a set of neurocognitive tests two to six months post-trauma. A group of non trauma-exposed youths (N = 36, Mage = 13.9, 27 female) were compared on narrative and neurocognitive tasks. Results indicated that trauma memories in youth with, versus without, PTSD were more sensory-laden, temporally disrupted, difficult to verbally access, and formed a more 'central' part of their identity. Greater differences were observed for self-reported memory characteristics compared to narrative characteristics. No between group differences in neurocognitive function were observed. Self-reported trauma memory characteristics highlight an important factor in the aetiology of PTSD. The observed lack of significant differences in neurocognitive ability potentially suggests that cognitive factors represent a more relevant treatment target than neurocognitive factors in single-event PTSD. Further research to understand the cognitive factors represented by self-reported trauma memory characteristics is recommended.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Reed
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
| | - Richard Meiser-Stedman
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Tim Dalgleish
- Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ben Goodall
- Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK
| | - Isobel Wright
- Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK
| | - Adrian Boyle
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Aaron Burgess
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Fionnuala Murphy
- Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK
| | - Caitlin Hitchcock
- Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK
| | - Susanne Schweizer
- Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emma Travers-Hill
- Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK
| | - Clare Dixon
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, UK
| | - Cari-Lène Mul
- Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK
| | - Patrick Smith
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Jill Newby
- Medical Research Council, Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anna McKinnon
- Centre for Emotional Health, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Davis RS, Halligan SL, Meiser-Stedman R, Elliott E, Ward G, Hiller RM. A Longitudinal Investigation of the Relationship Between Trauma-Related Cognitive Processes and Internalising and Externalising Psychopathology in Young People in Out-of-Home Care. Res Child Adolesc Psychopathol 2023; 51:485-496. [PMID: 36525227 PMCID: PMC10017561 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-022-01005-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Young people in out-of-home care are at increased risk of developing a range of posttrauma mental health difficulties, including PTSD, but more commonly anxiety, depression and externalising symptoms. Cognitive models of PTSD indicate that trauma-related maladaptive appraisals, coping strategies and trauma memory qualities are key processes in the development and maintenance of PTSD, yet there has been limited investigation of the potential role of these processes in broader posttrauma psychopathology, particularly in young people who have been exposed to complex, rather than acute, trauma. We recruited 120 10-18 years olds in out-of-home care, and their caregivers, who completed assessments at two time points: baseline and 12-month follow-up. Young people completed self-report measures of trauma-related maladaptive appraisals, coping strategies and trauma-memory qualities, as well as reporting on PTSD, anxiety, depression and externalising symptoms. Carers also reported on internalising and externalising symptoms. We found that all three cognitive processes were associated with baseline self-reported internalising symptoms, with maladaptive appraisals most robustly associated with both anxiety and depression. Changes in all three processes over 12-months predicted a change in self-reported internalising and externalising symptoms, with maladaptive appraisals and coping predicting anxiety symptoms, and coping uniquely predicting depression and externalising symptoms. Effects remained after controlling for co-occurring PTSD symptoms. Findings were not replicated when using carer-reported symptoms. These findings suggest that existing cognitive models of PTSD may also usefully explain broader posttrauma depression, anxiety and externalising symptoms in young people who have experienced maltreatment and live in out-of-home care. Clinical implications are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah L Halligan
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK.,Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Richard Meiser-Stedman
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Therapies, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | | | - Georgina Ward
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rachel M Hiller
- Department of Psychology, University of Bath, Bath, UK. .,Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, UK. .,Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Michalek J, Lisi M, Binetti N, Ozkaya S, Hadfield K, Dajani R, Mareschal I. War-related trauma linked to increased sustained attention to threat in children. Child Dev 2022; 93:900-909. [PMID: 35147214 PMCID: PMC9542223 DOI: 10.1111/cdev.13739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Experiences of war and displacement can have profound effects on children's affective development and mental health, although the mechanism(s) underlying these effects remain unknown. This study investigated the link between early adversity and attention to affective stimuli using a free-viewing eye-tracking paradigm with Syrian refugee (n = 31, Mage = 9.55, 12 female) and Jordanian non-refugee (n = 55, Mage = 9.98, 30 female) children living in Jordan (March 2020). Questionnaires assessed PTSD, anxiety/depression, insecurity, distress, and trauma. Refugee children showed greater initial avoidance of angry and happy faces compared to non-refugee children, and higher trauma exposure was linked to increased sustained attention to angry stimuli. These findings suggest that war-related trauma may have differential effects on the early and later stages of affective processing in refugee children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Michalek
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Matteo Lisi
- Department of Psychology, Royal Holloway University of London, London, UK
| | - Nicola Binetti
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.,International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Sumeyye Ozkaya
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Kristin Hadfield
- School of Psychology, Trinity Centre for Global Health, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Rana Dajani
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan
| | - Isabelle Mareschal
- School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|