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Putica A, O'Donnell ML, Felmingham KL, Van Dam NT. Emotion response disconcordance among trauma-exposed adults: the impact of alexithymia. Psychol Med 2023; 53:5442-5448. [PMID: 35975360 PMCID: PMC10482720 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291722002586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emotion processing deficits have been identified as a critical transdiagnostic factor that facilitates distress after trauma exposure. Limited skills in identifying and labelling emotional states (i.e. alexithymia) may present on the more automated (less conscious) end of the spectrum of emotional awareness and clarity. Individuals with alexithymia tend to exhibit a disconcordance between subjective experience and autonomic activity (e.g. where high levels of subjective emotional intensity are associated with low physiological arousal), which may exacerbate distress. Although there is a robust link between alexithymia and trauma exposure, no work to date has explored whether alexithymia is associated with emotional response disconcordance among trauma-exposed adults. METHOD Using a validated trauma script paradigm, the present study explored the impact of alexithymia on emotion response concordance [skin conductance (Galvanic Skin Response, GSR) and Total Mood Disturbance (TMD)] among 74 trauma-exposed adults recruited via a posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment clinic and student research programme. RESULTS Unlike posttraumatic symptom severity, age, sex, participant type and mood (which showed no effect on emotion response concordance), alexithymia was associated with heightened emotion response disconcordance between GSR and TMD [F(1, 37) = 8.93, p = 0.006], with low GSR being associated with high TMD. Observed effects of the trauma script were entirely accounted for by the interaction with alexithymia, such that those with alexithymia showed a negligible association between subjective and physiological states. CONCLUSION This finding is paramount as it shows that a large proportion of trauma-exposed adults have a divergent emotion engagement profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Putica
- Department of Psychiatry, Phoenix Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Meaghan L. O'Donnell
- Department of Psychiatry, Phoenix Australia Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Kim L. Felmingham
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Nicholas T. Van Dam
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Reduced avoidance coping in male, but not in female rats, after mild traumatic brain injury: Implications for depression. Behav Brain Res 2019; 373:112064. [PMID: 31278968 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Although there is evidence that traumatic brain injury (mTBI) induces emotional sequelae in rats, it is unclear whether the phenotype is reminiscent of major depressive disorder (MDD) or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Three behavioral protocols with oppositional indicators for MDD or PTSD were assessed: acoustic startle responses (ASRs), eyeblink conditioning, and instrumental escape/avoidance (E/A) learning. Female and male rats were exposed to lateral fluid percussion injury (LFPi) consistent with mild TBI (mTBI) or sham (SHAM) surgery. Experiment 1 suggested that the acquisition of the classically conditioned eyeblink responses was unaffected by mTBI infemale and male rats. In Experiment 2, male and female mTBI rats acquired instrumental escape responses similar to their SHAM counterparts. Avoidance expression of female mTBI rats did not differ appreciably from female SHAM rats. However, male mTBI rats expressed avoidance at a lower rate than male SHAM rats over training. Poor coping in male rats emerged with repeated exposure to stress, suggesting that depressive behaviors in mTBI develop over time and with continued demand from stress. Severely attenuated ASRs were evident in female and male mTBI rats compared to respective SHAM rats throughout testing across the two experiments. Overall, signs among the three bidirectional assessments during the subacute period after mTBI were more indicative of MDD-like, than PTSD-like sequelae.
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Boecker L, Pauli P. Affective startle modulation and psychopathology: Implications for appetitive and defensive brain systems. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 103:230-266. [PMID: 31129237 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 05/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Startle reflex potentiation versus startle attenuation to unpleasant versus pleasant stimuli likely reflect priming of the defensive versus appetitive motivational systems, respectively. This review summarizes and systemizes the literature on affective startle modulation related to psychopathologies with the aim to reveal underlying mechanisms across psychopathologies. We found evidence for psychopathologies characterized by increased startle potentiation to unpleasant stimuli (anxiety disorders), decreased startle potentiation to unpleasant stimuli (psychopathy), decreased startle attenuation to pleasant stimuli (ADHD), as well as a general hyporeactivity to affective stimuli (depression). Increased versus decreased startle responses to disorder-specific stimuli characterize specific phobia and drug dependence. No psychopathology is characterized by increased startle attenuation to standard pleasant stimuli or a general hyperreactivity to affective stimuli. This review indicates that the defensive and the appetitive systems operate independently mostly in accordance with the motivational priming hypothesis and that affective startle modulation is a highly valuable paradigm to unraveling dysfunctions of the defensive and appetitive systems in psychopathologies as requested by the Research Domain Criteria initiative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Boecker
- Department of Economic Psychology, Social Psychology & Experimental Methods, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Universitätsallee 1, 21335 Lüneburg, Germany.
| | - Paul Pauli
- Department of Psychology (Biological Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and Psychotherapy), University of Würzburg, Marcusstraße 9-11, 97070 Germany; Center of Mental Health, Medical Faculty, University of Würzburg, Germany
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4
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Marquardt CA, Goldman DJ, Cuthbert BN, Lissek S, Sponheim SR. Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Rather Than Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Best Account for Altered Emotional Responses in Military Veterans. J Trauma Stress 2018. [PMID: 29513916 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Emotional dysfunction is evident in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), yet it is unclear what aspects of the disorder most directly relate to aberrant emotional responding. Also, the frequent co-occurrence of blast-related mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) among recently deployed U.S. military personnel complicates efforts to understand the basis for emotional disruption. We studied a cross-sectional sample (enriched for PTSD and mTBI) of 123 U.S. veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We measured subjective affective evaluations and peripheral psychophysiological responses to images with pleasant, neutral, unpleasant, and combat-related aversive content. When compared with other postdeployment participants, those who had combat-related PTSD rated pleasant image content as less positive (ηp2 = .04) and less arousing (ηp2 = .06), and exhibited heightened physiological responsivity to combat image content (ηp2 = .07). Symptoms of PTSD were associated with elevated skin conductance responses (β = .28), reduced heart rate deceleration (β = .44 to .47), and increased corrugator facial muscle electromyography (β = .47). No effects for blast-related mTBI were observed across any affective modulation measures. These findings point to a greater impact of PTSD symptomatology than blast-related mTBI on emotional functioning and highlight the utility of dimensional assessments of psychopathology for understanding the effects of combat-stress conditions on adjustment to civilian life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig A Marquardt
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | | | | | - Shmuel Lissek
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Scott R Sponheim
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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5
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Emotion Dysregulation in Comorbid Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Substance Use Disorders: A Narrative Review. MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1037/mil0000157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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6
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Woodward SH, Jamison AL, Gala S, Holmes TH. Canine companionship is associated with modification of attentional bias in posttraumatic stress disorder. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0179912. [PMID: 29020064 PMCID: PMC5636264 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Attentional bias towards aversive stimuli has been demonstrated in the anxiety disorders and in posttraumatic stress disorder, and attentional bias modification has been proposed as a candidate treatment. This study rigorously assessed attentional bias towards aversive and pleasant visual imagery associated with the presence or absence of a familiar service canine in 23 veterans with chronic military-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Participants were repeatedly tested with and without their service canines present on two tasks designed to elicit spontaneous visual attention to facial and scenic image pairs, respectively. Each stimulus contrasted an emotive image with a neutral image. Via eye-tracking, the difference in visual attention directed to each image was analyzed as a function of the valence contrast and presence/absence of the canine. Across both tasks, the presence of a familiar service canine attenuated the normative attentional bias towards aversive image content. In the facial task, presence of the service canine specifically reduced attention toward angry faces. In that task, as well, accumulated days with the service canine similarly modulated attention toward facial emotion. The results suggest that the presence of a familiar service canine is associated with attenuation of attentional bias to aversive stimuli in chronic military-service-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Questions remain regarding the generalization of such effects to other populations, their dependence on the familiarity, breed, and training of the canine, and on social context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven H. Woodward
- National Center for PTSD, Dissemination and Training Division, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Andrea L. Jamison
- National Center for PTSD, Dissemination and Training Division, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Sasha Gala
- National Center for PTSD, Dissemination and Training Division, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, United States of America
| | - Tyson H. Holmes
- Human Immune Monitoring Center (HIMC), Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States of America
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Wannemüller A, Sartory G, Elsesser K, Lohrmann T, Jöhren HP. Modality of fear cues affects acoustic startle potentiation but not heart-rate response in patients with dental phobia. Front Psychol 2015; 6:170. [PMID: 25774142 PMCID: PMC4342881 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The acoustic startle response (SR) has consistently been shown to be enhanced by fear-arousing cross-modal background stimuli in phobics. Intra-modal fear-potentiation of acoustic SR was rarely investigated and generated inconsistent results. The present study compared the acoustic SR to phobia-related sounds with that to phobia-related pictures in 104 dental phobic patients and 22 controls. Acoustic background stimuli were dental treatment noises and birdsong and visual stimuli were dental treatment and neutral control pictures. Background stimuli were presented for 4 s, randomly followed by the administration of the startle stimulus. In addition to SR, heart-rate (HR) was recorded throughout the trials. Irrespective of their content, background pictures elicited greater SR than noises in both groups with a trend for phobic participants to show startle potentiation to phobia-related pictures but not noises. Unlike controls, phobics showed HR acceleration to both dental pictures and noises. HR acceleration of the phobia group was significantly positively correlated with SR in the noise condition only. The acoustic SR to phobia-related noises is likely to be inhibited by prolonged sensorimotor gating.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Wannemüller
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany
| | - Gudrun Sartory
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany
| | - Karin Elsesser
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany
| | - Thomas Lohrmann
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany
| | - Hans P Jöhren
- Dental Clinic, Augusta Hospital, Bochum, North Rhine-Westphalia , Germany
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8
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Clapp JD, Patton SC, Beck JG. Expressive inhibition in response to stress: implications for emotional processing following trauma. J Anxiety Disord 2015; 29:109-18. [PMID: 25576773 PMCID: PMC4327836 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2014.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2014] [Revised: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 11/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Expressive inhibition--the willful restriction of expressed emotion--is documented in individuals reporting trauma-related distress, but its impact on global affective functioning remains unclear. Theoretical models propose that chronic activation of negative emotion and deliberate restriction of affect operate synergistically to produce trauma-related emotional deficits. The current project examined the impact of these factors on subjective experience and physiological activation following exposure to an analog trauma. University students (N=192; Mage=20, 57% female, 42% White/Non-Hispanic) viewed a graphic film depicting scenes of a televised suicide. Participants then viewed either a sadness- or humor-eliciting film under instructions to inhibit [nsadness=45, nhumor=52] or naturally express emotion [nsadness=48, nhumor=47]. Expressive inhibition was associated with restricted amusement specifically among participants viewing the humor film. Inhibition also produced attenuated sympathetic and parasympathetic recovery, irrespective of film assignment. Evidence of disruptions in emotional processing supports models identifying inhibition as a possible mechanism in post-trauma affect dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Clapp
- University at Buffalo, SUNY, Department of Psychology, Park Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260, United States.
| | - Samantha C Patton
- University of Memphis, Department of Psychology, 202 Psychology Building, Memphis, TN 38152, United States.
| | - J Gayle Beck
- University of Memphis, Department of Psychology, 202 Psychology Building, Memphis, TN 38152, United States.
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9
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Tobón C, Ibañez A, Velilla L, Duque J, Ochoa J, Trujillo N, Decety J, Pineda D. Emotional processing in Colombian ex-combatants and its relationship with empathy and executive functions. Soc Neurosci 2014; 10:153-65. [DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2014.969406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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10
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Emotion regulation difficulties as a prospective predictor of posttraumatic stress symptoms following a mass shooting. J Anxiety Disord 2013; 27:188-96. [PMID: 23454838 PMCID: PMC3628280 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2012] [Revised: 01/14/2013] [Accepted: 01/16/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
A strong positive association between emotion regulation difficulties (ERD) and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) has been consistently evidenced in cross-sectional research. However, a lack of prospective research has limited hypotheses regarding the temporal relationship between trauma exposure, ERD, and PTSS. The present prospective study investigated the role of pre-trauma difficulties with emotion regulation in the development of PTSS following exposure to a potentially traumatic event. Between Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2), a mass shooting occurred at the participants' (n=691) university campus. ERD and PTSS were assessed prior to the shooting (T1), in the acute aftermath of the shooting (T2), and approximately eight months later (T3). Using a cross-lagged panel design, ERD was found to prospectively predict PTSS from T1 to T2 and T2 to T3. Additionally, PTSS prospectively predicted ERD from T1 to T2. However, T2 PTSS failed to predict T3 PTSS. Results indicate that ERD and PTSS are reciprocally influential from pre- to post-shooting. Further, results suggest that emotion dysregulation in the aftermath of a potentially traumatic event influences one's ability to recover from PTSS over time, even after accounting for the effects of existing symptomatology. To examine the specificity of temporal relations between ERD and PTSS a second cross-lagged panel design, in which a general distress construct was substituted for PTSS, was conducted. Results of this analysis, as well as conceptual and clinical implications, will be discussed.
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11
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Abstract
This study examined the relationship between psychopathy and traumatic stress. First, a sample of 48 male patients in a security hospital was assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist (Hare, 2003) and the Stanford Acute Stress Reactions Questionnaire (SASRQ; Cardena, Classen, Koopman, & Spiegel, 1996). Linear regression analyses suggested that the affect deficit component of psychopathy was the best negative predictor of avoidance, dissociation, and re-experiencing symptoms. The 13 highest-scoring psychopathy participants were then compared to the 13 lowest-scoring participants. Psychopaths differed from controls in terms of number but not type of traumatic events. They obtained significantly lower SASRQ total score, reflecting a lower level of traumatic symptomatology. The results are discussed in connection with the emotional deficit component of psychopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry H Pham
- Centre de Recherche en Defense Sociale, 94 rue Despars, Tournai, Belgium.
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12
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Ying LH, Wu XC, Lin CD. Longitudinal linkages between depressive and posttraumatic stress symptoms in adolescent survivors following the Wenchuan earthquake in China: A three-wave, cross-lagged study. SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL 2012. [DOI: 10.1177/0143034311421271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the relationships between depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a sample of adolescent survivors following the Wenchuan earthquake in China. Two-hundred adolescent survivors were reviewed at 12, 18 and 24-months post-earthquake. Depression and PTSD were assessed by two self-report questionnaires: The revised Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale for Children and the Revised Child PTSD Symptom Scale, respectively. The cross-lagged structural equation analysis with latent variables indicated that the PTSD symptoms and depression could be considered as two distinct and high-correlated constructs, and depression symptomatology pre-event could predict post-event PTSD. Depression symptoms play a crucial role in the development of PTSD symptoms. Implications of the results for psychological service providers to children and youth are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu-Hua Ying
- Beijing Normal University, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin-Chun Wu
- Beijing Normal University, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chong-De Lin
- Beijing Normal University, People’s Republic of China
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13
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Bonn-Miller MO, Vujanovic AA, Boden MT, Gross JJ. Posttraumatic stress, difficulties in emotion regulation, and coping-oriented marijuana use. Cogn Behav Ther 2011; 40:34-44. [PMID: 21337213 DOI: 10.1080/16506073.2010.525253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In an effort to better understand factors that may explain prior findings of a positive relation between posttraumatic stress symptom severity and coping-oriented marijuana use motivation, the present study tested whether the association between posttraumatic stress symptom severity and marijuana use coping motives is mediated by difficulties in emotion regulation. Participants were 79 (39 women; M(age) = 22.29 years, SD = 6.99) community-recruited adults who reported (1) lifetime exposure to at least one posttraumatic stress disorder Criterion A traumatic event and (2) marijuana use in the past 30 days. Results indicated that difficulties in emotion regulation, as indexed by the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (Gratz & Roemer, 2004), fully mediated the association between posttraumatic stress symptom severity and marijuana use coping motives. Implications for the treatment of co-occurring posttraumatic stress and marijuana use are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel O Bonn-Miller
- National Center for PTSD and Center for Health Care Evaluation, Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, California 94025, USA.
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14
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Schindel-Allon I, Aderka IM, Shahar G, Stein M, Gilboa-Schechtman E. Longitudinal associations between post-traumatic distress and depressive symptoms following a traumatic event: a test of three models. Psychol Med 2010; 40:1669-1678. [PMID: 20059801 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291709992248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are highly co-morbid following a traumatic event. Nevertheless, decisive evidence regarding the direction of the relationship between these clinical entities is missing. METHOD The aim of the present study was to examine the nature of this relationship by comparing a synchronous change model (PTSD and depression are time synchronous, possibly stemming from a third common factor) with a demoralization model (i.e. PTSD symptoms causing depression) and a depressogenic model (i.e. depressive symptoms causing PTSD symptoms). Israeli adult victims of single-event traumas (n=156) were assessed on measures of PTSD and depression at 2, 4 and 12 weeks post-event. RESULTS A cross-lagged structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis provided results consistent with the synchronous change model and the depressogenic model. CONCLUSIONS Depressive symptoms may play an important role in the development of post-traumatic symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Schindel-Allon
- Psychology Department and Gonda Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Israel
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Craske MG, Rauch SL, Ursano R, Prenoveau J, Pine DS, Zinbarg RE. What is an anxiety disorder? Depress Anxiety 2010; 26:1066-85. [PMID: 19957279 DOI: 10.1002/da.20633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 279] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Initiated as part of the ongoing deliberation about the nosological structure of DSM, this review aims to evaluate whether the anxiety disorders share features of responding that define them and make them distinct from depressive disorders, and/or that differentiate fear disorders from anxious-misery disorders. The review covers symptom self-report as well as on-line indices of behavioral, physiological, cognitive, and neural responding in the presence of aversive stimuli. The data indicate that the anxiety disorders share self-reported symptoms of anxiety and fear; heightened anxiety and fear responding to cues that signal threat, cues that signal no threat, cues that formerly signaled threat, and contexts associated with threat; elevated stress reactivity to aversive stimuli; attentional biases to threat-relevant stimuli and threat-based appraisals of ambiguous stimuli; and elevated amygdala responses to threat-relevant stimuli. Some differences exist among anxiety disorders, and between anxiety disorders and depressive disorders. However, the differences are not fully consistent with proposed subdivisions of fear disorders vs. anxious misery disorders, and comparative data in large part are lacking. Given the high rates of co-morbidity, advances in our understanding of the features of responding that are shared across vs. unique to anxiety and depressive disorders will require dimensional approaches. In summary, the extant data help to define the features of responding that are shared across anxiety disorders, but are insufficient to justify revisions to the DSM nosology at this time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle G Craske
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1563, USA.
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Adenauer H, Catani C, Keil J, Aichinger H, Neuner F. Is freezing an adaptive reaction to threat? Evidence from heart rate reactivity to emotional pictures in victims of war and torture. Psychophysiology 2010; 47:315-22. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2009.00940.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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17
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Vaidyanathan U, Patrick CJ, Cuthbert BN. Linking dimensional models of internalizing psychopathology to neurobiological systems: affect-modulated startle as an indicator of fear and distress disorders and affiliated traits. Psychol Bull 2009; 135:909-42. [PMID: 19883142 PMCID: PMC2776729 DOI: 10.1037/a0017222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Integrative hierarchical models have sought to account for the extensive comorbidity between various internalizing disorders in terms of broad individual difference factors these disorders share. However, such models have been developed largely on the basis of self-report and diagnostic symptom data. Toward the goal of linking such models to neurobiological systems, we reviewed studies that have employed variants of the affect-modulated startle paradigm to investigate emotional processing in internalizing disorders as well as personality constructs known to be associated with these disorders. Specifically, we focused on four parameters of startle reactivity: fear-potentiated startle, inhibition of startle in the context of pleasant stimuli, context-potentiated startle, and general startle reactivity. On the basis of available data, we argue that these varying effects index differing neurobiological processes related to mood and anxiety disorders that are interpretable from the standpoint of dimensional models of the internalizing spectrum. Further, we contend that these empirical findings can feed back into and help reshape conceptualizations of internalizing disorders in ways that make them more amenable to neurobiological analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uma Vaidyanathan
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Elliott Hall, 75 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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Abstract
This study evaluated evidence for 2 forms of emotional abnormality in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD): numbing and heightened negative emotionality. Forty-nine male veterans with PTSD and 75 without the disorder rated their emotional responses to photographs that depicted scenes of Vietnam combat or were drawn from the International Affective Picture System (Lang et al., 2005). Images varied in their trauma-relatedness and affective qualities. A series of repeated measures ANOVAs revealed that Vietnam combat veterans with PTSD responded to unpleasant images with greater negative emotionality (i.e., enhanced arousal and lower valence ratings) than those without the disorder and this effect was modified by the trauma-relatedness of the image with stronger effects for trauma-related images. In contrast, the 2 groups showed equivalent patterns of responses to pleasant images. Findings raise questions about the sensitivity of the International Affective Picture System rating protocol for the assessment of PTSD-related emotional numbing.
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Ray WJ, Molnar C, Aikins D, Yamasaki A, Newman MG, Castonguay L, Borkovec TD. Startle response in generalized anxiety disorder. Depress Anxiety 2009; 26:147-54. [PMID: 19105213 PMCID: PMC6707516 DOI: 10.1002/da.20479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The main purpose of the present study was to examine the startle reflex in individuals diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and control participants in terms of three questions. First, is the basic startle reflex modulated by autonomic nervous system (ANS) activation and/or attentional focus? Second, are induced and self-reported emotional states related to the magnitude of the startle response? And third, do individuals with GAD and their controls show differential startle responses? METHODS Experimental tasks designed to elicit sympathetic and parasympathetic activation and requiring internal and external attention foci were administered to nine individuals with GAP and nine controls. RESULTS Individuals with GAD showed a greater startle reflex than controls during involvement in tasks that either induced worry or relaxation but not during a baseline period. Startle responses differed in terms of intentional focus but not ANS activity. During baseline and emotional induction, self-reported negative emotionality was significantly correlated with magnitude of the startle response. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that negative emotionality at the time of the startle probe is an important determinant. Further, attentional focus plays a more important role in startle modulation than autonomic nervous system manipulation. These results are discussed in relation to negative emotion, focus of attention, and use of the startle response as a measure of change during psychotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J Ray
- Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.
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20
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Hasenkamp W, Norrholm SD, Green A, Lewison B, Boshoven W, Keyes M, Duncan E. Differences in startle reflex and prepulse inhibition in European-Americans and African-Americans. Psychophysiology 2008; 45:876-82. [PMID: 18665868 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2008.00680.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The acoustic startle reflex and its modulation by a prepulse are psychophysiological phenomena that are commonly studied to evaluate various aspects of information processing. Recent reports in human populations suggest that subjects from disparate racial backgrounds may have significant differences in the startle response. To determine if this pattern could be observed in our subject population and whether it extended to prepulse inhibition (PPI), we evaluated baseline startle parameters and PPI in 53 African-Americans (AA) and 38 European-Americans (EA). In AA compared to EA, mean startle magnitude and probability of blink response were lower, with no difference in habituation. PPI was greater in AA than EA when groups were matched on baseline startle magnitude. These findings support the idea of racial differences in startle response. Implications for study design are highlighted, and possible environmental and genetic influences are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy Hasenkamp
- Atlanta Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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21
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Frewen PA, Dozois DJA, Neufeld RWJ, Lanius RA. Meta-analysis of alexithymia in posttraumatic stress disorder. J Trauma Stress 2008; 21:243-6. [PMID: 18404647 DOI: 10.1002/jts.20320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The authors present a meta-analysis investigating the prevalence of alexithymia in 12 studies encompassing 1,095 individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A large effect size was found associating PTSD with alexithymia. Effect sizes were higher in studies of male combat PTSD samples in comparison with studies of other PTSD samples. Clinical and research directions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Frewen
- Department of Psychology, The University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
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22
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Stam R. PTSD and stress sensitisation: a tale of brain and body Part 1: human studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2007; 31:530-57. [PMID: 17270271 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2006.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2006] [Revised: 11/28/2006] [Accepted: 11/30/2006] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic, debilitating psychiatric disorder that can follow exposure to extreme stressful experiences. It is characterised by hyperarousal and increased startle responses, re-experiencing of the traumatic event, withdrawal or avoidance behaviour and emotional numbing. The focus of this review is on aspects that have received less attention. PTSD develops only in a substantial minority of people exposed to traumatic stress, and possible individual traits that increase vulnerability are discussed. An overview is given of the wide variety of physiological disturbances that accompany PTSD and may contribute to disability, including neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and immune function and pain sensitivity. Brain imaging and pharmacological studies have generated some insight into the circuitry that may be involved in the generation of PTSD symptoms. Major limitations of human studies so far are the issue of causality and our lack of understanding of the underlying molecular substrates in the brain, which are easier to address in relevant animal models and will be discussed in a companion paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rianne Stam
- Department of Pharmacology and Anatomy, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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23
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Li Z, Zhou Q, Li L, Mao R, Wang M, Peng W, Dong Z, Xu L, Cao J. Effects of unconditioned and conditioned aversive stimuli in an intense fear conditioning paradigm on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal CA1 area in vivo. Hippocampus 2005; 15:815-24. [PMID: 16015621 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.20104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Repeated vivid recalls or flashbacks of traumatic memories and memory deficits are the cardinal features of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The underlying mechanisms are not fully understood yet. Here, we examined the effects of very strong fear conditioning (20 pairings of a light with a 1.5-mA, 0.5-s foot shock) and subsequent reexposure to the conditioning context (chamber A), a similar context (chamber B), and/or to the fear conditioned stimulus (CS) (a light) on synaptic plasticity in the hippocampal CA1 area in anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats. The conditioning procedure resulted in very strong conditioned fear, as reflected by high levels of persistent freezing, to both the contexts and to the CS, 24 h after fear conditioning. The induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) was blocked immediately after fear conditioning. It was still markedly impaired 24 h after fear conditioning; reexposure to the conditioning chamber A (CA) or to a similar chamber B (CB) did not affect the impairment. However, presentation of the CS in the CA exacerbated the impairment of LTP, whereas the CS presentation in a CB ameliorated the impairment so that LTP induction did not differ from that of control groups. The induction of long-term depression (LTD) was facilitated immediately, but not 24 h, after fear conditioning. Only reexposure to the CS in the CA, but not reexposure to either chamber A or B alone, or the CS in chamber B, 24 h after conditioning, reinstated the facilitation of LTD induction. These data demonstrate that unconditioned and conditioned aversive stimuli in an intense fear conditioning paradigm can have profound effects on hippocampal synaptic plasticity, which may aid to understand the mechanisms underlying impairments of hippocampus-dependent memory by stress or in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zexuan Li
- Mental Health Institute of the 2nd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
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24
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Wessa M, Karl A, Flor H. Central and peripheral psychophysiological responses to trauma-related cues in subclinical posttraumatic stress disorder: a pilot study. Exp Brain Res 2005; 167:56-65. [PMID: 16034572 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-005-0007-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2004] [Accepted: 03/23/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
This study examined verbal-subjective, peripheral and central physiological responses of motor vehicle accident (MVA) survivors with subclinical posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), without PTSD symptoms as well as healthy controls. Seven persons of each group were exposed to positive, neutral, accident-related and negative, non-accident-related slides. The verbal-subjective ratings of the slides did not differ between the groups. In contrast to the verbal ratings of the trauma-related materials, the behavioral and physiological responses showed a remarkable dissociation from these reports. The startle responses were enhanced to accident-related slides only in the PTSD group and MVA survivors with PTSD had a significantly lower response to the neutral slides than MVA survivors without PTSD. P200 was lower to positive, neutral and negative slides in the PTSD group compared to both other groups. The late positive complex showed no group-related effects. The data suggest that traumatized persons with PTSD show exaggerated emotional responses to trauma-related stimuli and reduced cognitive responses to several types of stimuli that may interfere with the extinction of the emotional trauma memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michèle Wessa
- Department of Neuropsychology and Clinical Psychology at the University of Heidelberg, Central Institute of Mental Health, J5, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
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