Anxiety sensitivity and PTSD symptom severity are reciprocally related: Evidence from a longitudinal study of physical trauma survivors.

Despite its hypothesized role in the etiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), little research has investigated neural correlates of episodic memory impairment in trauma survivors. This pilot study utilized a correlational design to investigate the association between PTSD symptom severity, hippocampal volume, episodic memory, and brain activation during the Remember-Know task. Eleven non-medicated, right-handed survivors of civilian trauma participated in the study. Significant positive correlations were found between PTSD symptom severity and the activation of brain areas implicated in the episodic recognition network such as hippocampus, precuneus, and occipital gyrus. Higher PTSD symptoms were also significantly negatively correlated with brain activations in areas associated with episodic memory but also visuospatial attention such as the superior parietal lobule and the supramarginal gyrus. The pattern of results indicates specific alterations in the recruitment of the episodic memory network, possibly with a focus on internal mental imagery at the cost of integration between internal processes and external visuospatial online monitoring.

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Reappraising the link between peritraumatic dissociation and PTSD symptom severity: Evidence from a longitudinal study of community violence survivors.

Journal of Abnormal Psychology ◽

10.1037/0021-843x.111.4.626 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 111 (4) ◽

pp. 626-636 ◽

Cited By ~ 107

Author(s):

Grant N. Marshall ◽

Terry L. Schell

Keyword(s):

Longitudinal Study ◽

Community Violence ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Ptsd Symptom ◽

Peritraumatic Dissociation ◽

Ptsd Symptom Severity

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Anxiety sensitivity and breath-holding duration in relation to PTSD symptom severity among trauma exposed adults

Journal of Anxiety Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.janxdis.2011.10.004 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 134-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Erin C. Berenz ◽

Anka A. Vujanovic ◽

Scott F. Coffey ◽

Michael J. Zvolensky

Keyword(s):

Anxiety Sensitivity ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Ptsd Symptom ◽

Breath Holding ◽

Ptsd Symptom Severity

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Associations between Lower-Order Anxiety Sensitivity Facets and PTSD Symptomatology among Trauma-Exposed Firefighters

Behavior Modification ◽

10.1177/01454455211016819 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 014544552110168

Author(s):

Antoine Lebeaut ◽

Samuel J. Leonard ◽

Nathaniel Healy ◽

Amanda M. Raines ◽

Sam J. Buser ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anxiety Sensitivity ◽

Lower Order ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Ptsd Symptom ◽

Fire Service ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

Potentially Traumatic Events ◽

Depressive Symptom Severity ◽

Ptsd Symptom Severity ◽

In Fire

Firefighters are chronically exposed to potentially traumatic events, augmenting their risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current study aimed to examine the incremental associations of lower-order dimensions of anxiety sensitivity (AS), examined concurrently, and PTSD symptom severity among a sample of trauma-exposed firefighters. We hypothesized that AS physical and cognitive concerns would be strongly associated with all PTSD symptom clusters and overall symptom severity, after controlling for theoretically relevant covariates (trauma load; years in fire service; alcohol use severity; depressive symptom severity). Participants were comprised of firefighters ( N = 657) who completed an online questionnaire battery and endorsed PTSD Criterion A trauma exposure. Results revealed that the AS cognitive concerns, but not AS physical concerns, was significantly and robustly associated with overall PTSD symptom severity, intrusion symptoms, and negative alterations in cognitions and mood ( ∆R2’s = .028–.042; p’s < .01); AS social concerns was incrementally associated with PTSD avoidance ( ∆R2 = .03, p < .01). Implications for firefighter-informed, evidence-based interventions are discussed.

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Lifetime trauma victimization and PTSD in relation to psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder in a sample of incarcerated women and men

International Journal of Prisoner Health ◽

10.1108/ijph-06-2014-0016 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 64-74 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Robyn L Gobin ◽

Madhavi K. Reddy ◽

Caron Zlotnick ◽

Jennifer E. Johnson

Keyword(s):

Personality Disorder ◽

Antisocial Personality Disorder ◽

Symptom Severity ◽

Ptsd Symptom ◽

Incarcerated Women ◽

Antisocial Personality ◽

Content Type ◽

Physical Trauma ◽

Lifetime Trauma ◽

Ptsd Symptom Severity

Purpose – Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and psychopathy are similar, but distinct, psychiatric conditions that are common in male and female inmates; a segment of the population with high rates of trauma exposure. It is unclear whether specific types of lifetime trauma are associated with ASPD and psychopathy in incarcerated women and men. Furthermore, the unique roles of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity and trauma victimization in antisocial personality disturbance are not well-understood. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – This study investigated associations between trauma variables (different kinds of traumatic experiences and PTSD) and antisocial personality variables (ASPD and psychopathy) in a sample of incarcerated women and men who participated in a randomized clinical trial for major depressive disorder. In total, 88 incarcerated men and women were assessed for ASPD diagnosis, psychopathy severity, PTSD symptom severity, and history of physical, sexual, and crime-related trauma. Regression analyses predicted ASPD or psychopathy from trauma variables, controlling for gender. Findings – Physical trauma was the only form of trauma that was significantly related to psychopathy. Physical trauma and crime-related trauma were associated with ASPD. PTSD symptom severity was not associated with psychopathy or ASPD. Originality/value – There are associations between some kinds of lifetime trauma exposure and current ASPD/psychopathy in the target sample, but these associations do not appear to be mediated through current PTSD symptoms.

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