Attention allocation in posttraumatic stress disorder: an eye-tracking study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Amit Lazarov ◽  
Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez ◽  
Xi Zhu ◽  
Daniel S. Pine ◽  
Yair Bar-Haim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Opposite Pattern ◽  
Retest Reliability ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

Abstract Background Eye-tracking-based attentional research implicates sustained attention to threat in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, most of this research employed small stimuli set-sizes, small samples that did not include both trauma-exposed healthy participants and non-trauma-exposed participants, and generally failed to report the reliability of used tasks and attention indices. Here, using an established eye-tracking paradigm, we explore attention processes to different negatively-valenced cues in PTSD while addressing these limitations. Methods PTSD patients (n = 37), trauma-exposed healthy controls (TEHC; n = 34), and healthy controls (HC; n = 30) freely viewed three blocks of 30 different matrices of faces, each presented for 6 s. Each block consisted of matrices depicting eight negatively-valenced faces (anger, fear, or sadness) and eight neutral faces. Gaze patterns on negative and neural areas of interest were compared. Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were evaluated for the entire sample and within groups. Results The two trauma-exposed groups dwelled longer on negatively-valenced faces over neutral faces, while HC participants showed the opposite pattern. This attentional bias was more prominent in the PTSD than the TEHC group. Similar results emerged for first-fixation dwell time, but with no differences between the two trauma-exposed groups. No group differences emerged for first-fixation latency or location. Internal consistency and 1-week test-retest reliability were adequate, across and within groups. Conclusions Sustained attention on negatively-valenced stimuli emerges as a potential target for therapeutic intervention in PTSD designed to divert attention away from negatively-valenced stimuli and toward neutral ones.

scholarly journals Attention to threat in posttraumatic stress disorder as indexed by eye-tracking indices: a systematic review

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 705-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amit Lazarov ◽  
Benjamin Suarez-Jimenez ◽  
Amanda Tamman ◽  
Louise Falzon ◽  
Xi Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Eye Tracking ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Group Comparison ◽  
Attentional Processes ◽  
Meta Analyses

AbstractBackgroundCognitive models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) implicate threat-related attentional biases in the etiology and phenomenology of the disorder. However, extant attentional research using reaction time (RT)-based paradigms and measures has yielded mixed results. Eye-tracking methodology has emerged in recent years to overcome several inherent drawbacks of RT-based tasks, striving to better delineate attentional processes.MethodsA systematic review of experimental studies examining threat-related attention biases in PTSD, using eye-tracking methodology and group-comparison designs, was conducted conforming to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Studies were selected following a systematic search for publications between 1980 and December 2017 in PsycINFO, MEDLINE and the National Center for PTSD Research's Published International Literature on Traumatic Stress (PILOTS) database. Additional records were identified by employing the Similar Articles feature in PubMed, and the Cited Reference Search in ISI Web of Science. Reference sections of review articles, book chapters and studies selected for inclusion were searched for further studies. Ongoing studies were also sought through Clinicaltrials.gov.ResultsA total of 11 studies (n = 456 participants in total) were included in the final review. Results indicated little support for enhanced threat detection, hypervigilance and attentional avoidance. However, consistent evidence emerged for sustained attention on threat (i.e. attention maintenance) in PTSD.ConclusionsThis review is the first to systematically evaluate extant findings in PTSD emanating from eye-tracking studies employing group-comparison designs. Results suggest that sustained attention on threat might serve as a potential target for therapeutic intervention.

scholarly journals Factor structure, internal consistency and reliability of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL): an exploratory study

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 215-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo de Paula Lima ◽  
Sandhi Maria Barreto ◽  
Ada Ávila Assunção
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Internal Consistency ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Oblique Rotation ◽  
Language Version ◽  
Temporal Reliability

INTRODUCTION: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder resulting from exposure to traumatic events. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (PCL) is a self-report measure largely used to evaluate the presence of PTSD. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the internal consistency, temporal reliability and factor validity of the Portuguese language version of the PCL used in Brazil. METHODS: A total of 186 participants were recruited. The sample was heterogeneous with regard to occupation, sociodemographic data, mental health history, and exposure to traumatic events. Subjects answered the PCL at two occasions within a 15 days’ interval (range: 5-15 days). RESULTS: Cronbach’s alpha coefficients indicated high internal consistency for the total scale (0.91) and for the theoretical dimensions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) (0.83, 0.81, and 0.80). Temporal reliability (test-retest) was high and consistent for different cutoffs. Maximum likelihood exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted and oblique rotation (Promax) was applied. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) index (0.911) and Bartlett’s test of sphericity (χ² = 1,381.34, p < 0.001) indicated that correlation matrices were suitable for factor analysis. The analysis yielded three symptom clusters which accounted for 48.9% of the variance, namely, intrusions, avoidance, and numbing-hyperarousal. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide additional data regarding the psychometric properties of the PCL, including internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and factor validity. Results are discussed in relation to PTSD theoretical models.

Association between flashbacks and structural brain abnormalities in posttraumatic stress disorder

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 525-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.C.W. Kroes ◽  
M.G. Whalley ◽  
M.D. Rugg ◽  
C.R. Brewin
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Brain Volume ◽  
Structural Mri ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Visual Stream ◽  
Brain Volumes ◽  
Symptom Level ◽  
Mri Scans

AbstractObjectivePosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is reliably associated with reduced brain volume relative to healthy controls, in areas similar to those found in depression. We investigated whether in a PTSD sample brain volumes in these areas were related to reporting specific symptoms of PTSD or to overall symptom severity.MethodStructural MRI scans were obtained from 28 participants diagnosed with PTSD according to DSM-IV-TR. Participants reported the extent of individual PTSD symptoms using the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale. Voxel-based morphometry applying the Dartel algorithm implemented within SPM5 was used to identify volumetric changes, related to PTSD total, symptom cluster, and individual symptom scores.ResultsBrain volume was unrelated to overall PTSD severity, but greater reexperiencing scores predicted reduced volumes in the middle temporal and inferior occipital cortices. Increased reports of flashbacks predicted reduced volume in the insula/parietal operculum and in the inferior temporal gyrus.ConclusionThe data illustrate the value of analyses at the symptom level within a patient population to supplement group comparisons of patients and healthy controls. Areas identified were consistent with a neurobiological account of flashbacks implicating specific abnormalities in the ventral visual stream.

scholarly journals Cognitive Functions in Combat Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 199-207
Author(s):  
Ana Havelka Meštrović ◽  
Marina Domijan ◽  
Vlatko Mičković ◽  
Zoran Lončar
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Additional Contribution ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Significant Difference

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with changes in cognitive functions. The aim of the study was to investigate differences in cognitive abilities between PTSD patients and healthy controls. As PTSD is often accompanied by comorbidity, the PTSD patients with comorbid diagnoses were also included in our study. The study participants included 254 Croatian combat veterans (60 PTSD and 194 PTSD plus comorbidity) and control group of 125 healthy Croatian military and civilian pilots. The diagnosis of PTSD was made by clinical scale for PTSD assessment (CAPS), while cognitive abilities were measured by Wechsler intelligence scale (WAIS-III-R) and Rey test (ROCFT). The study results have confirmed that there is a significant difference in cognitive functions between the PTSD patients and healthy controls regarding age and education. The PTSD patients (PTSD only and PTSD with comorbidity) have shown lower general intellectual abilities, reduced capacity of working, numerical and visual memory, and decreased executive functions when compared to healthy controls. These results are an additional contribution to a better understanding and determination of changes in cognitive functions that occur in combat PTSD as a result of traumatic stress.

Sustained attention in combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder

1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Golier ◽  
Rachel Yehuda ◽  
Barbara Cornblatt ◽  
Philip Harvey ◽  
Doug Gerber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Sustained Attention ◽  
Stress Disorder

scholarly journals Reliability, validity and psychometric properties of the Greek translation of the posttraumatic stress disorder scale

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-9
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Kontoangelos ◽  
Sofia Tsiori ◽  
Garyfalia Poulakou ◽  
Konstantinos Protopapas ◽  
Ioannis Katsarolis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Greek Version ◽  
Intra Class Correlation ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Test Retest Reliability ◽  
Scree Test

The Greek version of the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS) was developed to respond to the need of Greek-speaking individuals. The translated questionnaire was administered to 128 HIV outpatients (aged 37.1±9.1) and 166 control patients (aged 32.4±13.4). In addition to the DTS Greek scale, subjects were assessed with two other scales useful for assessing validity. For each factor analyses two components were extracted, based on Cattell's scree test. The two components solution accounted for 55.34% of the total variation in case of frequency variables and 61.45% in case of severity variables. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient and Guttman split-half coefficient of the DTS scale were 0.93 and 0.88 respectively. The test-retest reliability of the Greek version of DTS scale proved to be satisfactory. Individual items had good intra-class correlation coefficients higher than 0.5, which means that all questions have high levels of external validity. The psychometric strength of interview for post-traumatic stress disorder-Greek version it's reliable for its future use, particularly for screening subjects with possible diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder.

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