scholarly journals Are Trauma Memories Disjointed from other Autobiographical Memories in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder? An Experimental Investigation

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgit Kleim ◽  
Franziska Wallott ◽  
Anke Ehlers

AbstractThis study tested the hypothesis that trauma memories are disjointed from other autobiographical material in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Assault survivors with (n = 25) and without PTSD (n = 49) completed an autobiographical memory retrieval task during script-driven imagery of (a) the assault and (b) an unrelated negative event. When listening to a taped imagery script of the worst moment of their assault, survivors with PTSD took longer to retrieve unrelated non-traumatic autobiographical information than those without PTSD, but not when listening to a taped script of the worst moment of another negative life event. The groups also did not differ in general retrieval latencies, neither at baseline nor after the imagery tasks. The findings are in line with suggestions that traumatic memories are less integrated with other autobiographical information in trauma survivors with PTSD than in those without PTSD.

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Schönfeld ◽  
Anke Ehlers

Evidence from self-reports and laboratory studies suggests that recall of nontrauma autobiographical memories may be disturbed in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but investigations in everyday life are sparse. This study investigated unintentional nontrauma and trauma memories in trauma survivors with and without PTSD ( N = 52), who kept an autobiographical memory diary for a week. We investigated whether unintentional nontrauma memories show an overgeneral memory bias and further memory abnormalities in people with PTSD, and whether unintentional trauma memories show distinct features. Compared to the no-PTSD group, the PTSD group recorded fewer nontrauma memories, which were more overgeneral, more often from before the trauma or related to the trauma, were perceived as distant, and led to greater dwelling. Trauma memories were more vivid, recurrent, and present and led to greater suppression and dwelling. Within the PTSD group, the same features distinguished trauma and nontrauma memories. Results are discussed regarding theories of autobiographical memory and PTSD.


2021 ◽  
Vol 89 (9) ◽  
pp. S196
Author(s):  
Victor Tang ◽  
Kathleen Trought ◽  
Kristina Gicas ◽  
Mari Kozak ◽  
Sheena Josselyn ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maryam Piltan ◽  
Ali Reza Moradi ◽  
Mohammad Hassan Choobin ◽  
Parviz Azadfallah ◽  
Sara Eskandari ◽  
...  

Reduced ability to retrieve specific autobiographical memories is a well-defined feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and science-driven interventions have emerged to improve memory specificity and thereby symptoms. However, research in depressed samples indicates that the ability to flexibly move between retrieval of specific and general memory types (i.e., memory flexibility) may more accurately conceptualize autobiographical memory deficits in emotional disturbance. In this study, we evaluated memory specificity and memory flexibility in Iranian trauma survivors ( N = 63) with and without PTSD relative to community control participants. Trauma-exposed participants had experienced a serious road-traffic accident. Results indicated that individuals with PTSD experienced reduced memory specificity and memory flexibility relative to trauma-exposed participants and community control participants. A small sample size limits the strength of conclusions, although good statistical power was obtained. Findings suggest that reduced memory flexibility may be a transdiagnostic marker of emotional disturbance and support further development of memory flexibility interventions for PTSD.


2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sherry A. Falsetti ◽  
Jeannine Monnier ◽  
Joanne L. Davis ◽  
Heidi S. Resnick

This article reviews the literature on prevalence, associated features, assessment, and treatment of intrusive symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research indicates that among trauma survivors, intrusive thoughts and imagery are quite common and distressing. It appears that early intrusions may be predictive of long-term distress and that avoidance and suppression can maintain intrusions. The treatment outcome literature for PTSD indicates that current cognitive behavioral treatments are effective in reducing intrusions. New data from a recent treatment outcome study for PTSD with comorbid panic attacks, using Multiple Channel Exposure Therapy, also suggest that this treatment is effective in significantly reducing intrusions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 209 (3) ◽  
pp. 218-227
Author(s):  
Astrid Maria Mattsson ◽  
Charlotte Sonne ◽  
Jessica Carlsson

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 367 (6479) ◽  
pp. eaay8477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison Mary ◽  
Jacques Dayan ◽  
Giovanni Leone ◽  
Charlotte Postel ◽  
Florence Fraisse ◽  
...  

In the aftermath of trauma, little is known about why the unwanted and unbidden recollection of traumatic memories persists in some individuals but not others. We implemented neutral and inoffensive intrusive memories in the laboratory in a group of 102 individuals exposed to the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks and 73 nonexposed individuals, who were not in Paris during the attacks. While reexperiencing these intrusive memories, nonexposed individuals and exposed individuals without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could adaptively suppress memory activity, but exposed individuals with PTSD could not. These findings suggest that the capacity to suppress memory is central to positive posttraumatic adaptation. A generalized disruption of the memory control system could explain the maladaptive and unsuccessful suppression attempts often seen in PTSD, and this disruption should be targeted by specific treatments.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 739-755
Author(s):  
Benjamin W. Bellet ◽  
Payton J. Jones ◽  
Richard J. McNally

Trauma survivors who self-trigger, or seek reminders of their traumatic events, have been noted in the clinical literature but have not yet been the subject of a systematic empirical inquiry. This article presents the results of two exploratory studies of self-triggering. In Study 1 ( N = 545), we estimated the behavior’s clinical relevance among trauma survivors. In Study 2 ( N = 360), we examined descriptive characteristics of self-triggering as well as potential motivations for the behavior. We found that self-triggering is uniquely associated with more severe symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder. Self-triggering takes place via a wide variety of methods and can become compulsive for many individuals. Reasons endorsed for self-triggering comprised several broad motives, but the desire to make meaning of one’s trauma was most predictive of self-triggering frequency. Limitations, clinical implications, and directions for further research are discussed.


Psychiatry ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 386-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janyce E. Osenbach ◽  
Charles Lewis ◽  
Barry Rosenfeld ◽  
Joan Russo ◽  
Leah M. Ingraham ◽  
...  

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