Responses to Interoceptive Exposure in People With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Preliminary Analysis of Induced Anxiety Reactions and Trauma Memories and Their Relationship to Anxiety Sensitivity and PTSD Symptom Severity

2008 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaye Wald ◽  
Steven Taylor
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonya G. Wanklyn

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD) commonly cooccur following trauma, and their co-occurrence is associated with substantial costs; however, our understanding of the timing and sequencing of these posttrauma mental health conditions is limited. This study examined the trajectories of PTSD symptom severity and substance use among individuals recently exposed to a traumatic event, with a focus on the potential moderating roles of PTSD and SUD diagnoses at the final assessment. Additionally, in attempt to better understand the functional relationship between PTSD symptoms and substance use posttrauma, this study compared models reflecting the theories of self-medication, susceptibility, and mutual maintenance. Participants included 137 individuals who had experienced a traumatic event within 6 months prior to study enrollment. Participants completed four assessments over an approximate 1-year period that included clinician-administered measures for DSM-5 PTSD symptoms and SUD diagnosis and self-report measures of alcohol and drug use. Change over time in PTSD symptoms and substance use by diagnostic status were investigated using growth curve models. Temporal sequencing between PTSD symptom severity and substance use was investigated with bivariate latent difference score structural equation modeling. In line with the conceptualization of PTSD as a disorder of impeded recovery, having a diagnosis of PTSD at the final assessment moderated the trajectory of PTSD symptom severity such that symptom severity declined only among those without PTSD. In contrast, the influence of SUD appeared to be negligible. Both PTSD and SUD diagnoses were associated with initial drug use frequency. However, the relationship between alcohol use and diagnostic status did not reach statistical significance. Regarding temporal relationships between PTSD symptoms and substance use, significant and negative PTSD to change in substance use cross-lagged paths were found across most of the models, while only one significant substance use to change in PTSD severity crosslagged path emerged in the PTSD intrusion with alcohol use model. These results add to a growing body of research suggesting trauma-focused intervention is viable for individuals with PTSD/SUD. Further, examination of potential mediators and moderators of the relation between PTSD and SUD is recommended as a critical focus for future research.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 805-805
Author(s):  
Prieto S ◽  
Valerio K ◽  
Moody J ◽  
Hayes S ◽  
Hayes J

Abstract Objective To examine cross-sectional associations between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity, number of stressors experienced, and cognitive outcomes in Vietnam War veterans. Methods 366 adults between the ages of 60–85 years old completed a Vietnam Veterans Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative Project (ADNI-DoD) visit consisting of a clinical interview and neuropsychological assessment. Number of stressful experiences were measured with the Life Stressor Checklist-Revised (LSC-R). Severity scores were assessed via the current Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Correlations were conducted between selected measures of stress and age, years of education, sex, ethnicity, and race. Demographic variables with significant associations with stress were included as covariates in the hierarchical regressions. Hierarchical linear regressions were conducted to examine the effect of CAPS and LSC-R on baseline Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. Results Higher CAPS scores (indicating higher PTSD severity) were associated with worse cognitive outcomes on the MoCA [ΔF(1,269) = 15.058, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.116]. By contrast, number of stressful experiences was not associated with cognitive outcomes. Follow up analyses indicated that CAPS severity scores were significantly associated with the memory index and the attention index of the MoCA. Conclusions In a sample of older veterans, PTSD symptom severity was associated with worse performance on the MoCA. Moreover, further analyses indicated that results within the memory and attention domains are driving these results. As such, treating PTSD symptoms may be helpful in maintaining cognitive function as adults age.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonya G. Wanklyn

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance use disorder (SUD) commonly cooccur following trauma, and their co-occurrence is associated with substantial costs; however, our understanding of the timing and sequencing of these posttrauma mental health conditions is limited. This study examined the trajectories of PTSD symptom severity and substance use among individuals recently exposed to a traumatic event, with a focus on the potential moderating roles of PTSD and SUD diagnoses at the final assessment. Additionally, in attempt to better understand the functional relationship between PTSD symptoms and substance use posttrauma, this study compared models reflecting the theories of self-medication, susceptibility, and mutual maintenance. Participants included 137 individuals who had experienced a traumatic event within 6 months prior to study enrollment. Participants completed four assessments over an approximate 1-year period that included clinician-administered measures for DSM-5 PTSD symptoms and SUD diagnosis and self-report measures of alcohol and drug use. Change over time in PTSD symptoms and substance use by diagnostic status were investigated using growth curve models. Temporal sequencing between PTSD symptom severity and substance use was investigated with bivariate latent difference score structural equation modeling. In line with the conceptualization of PTSD as a disorder of impeded recovery, having a diagnosis of PTSD at the final assessment moderated the trajectory of PTSD symptom severity such that symptom severity declined only among those without PTSD. In contrast, the influence of SUD appeared to be negligible. Both PTSD and SUD diagnoses were associated with initial drug use frequency. However, the relationship between alcohol use and diagnostic status did not reach statistical significance. Regarding temporal relationships between PTSD symptoms and substance use, significant and negative PTSD to change in substance use cross-lagged paths were found across most of the models, while only one significant substance use to change in PTSD severity crosslagged path emerged in the PTSD intrusion with alcohol use model. These results add to a growing body of research suggesting trauma-focused intervention is viable for individuals with PTSD/SUD. Further, examination of potential mediators and moderators of the relation between PTSD and SUD is recommended as a critical focus for future research.


2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 547-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Mueller ◽  
Ulrich Orth ◽  
Jianping Wang ◽  
Andreas Maercker

Objective: Only rare data exist comparing cross-cultural aspects of civilian traumatization. We compared prevalence rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in German and Chinese crime victims, and investigated the cross-cultural effect of 2 interpersonal predictors. Method: German ( n = 151) and Chinese ( n = 144) adult crime victims were assessed several months postcrime. The parallel questionnaire set assessed PTSD symptom severity, disclosure attitudes, social acknowledgement, and demographic and crime characteristics. Results: German and Chinese participants differed significantly in their PTSD symptom severity. However, in both samples, disclosure attitudes and social acknowledgement predicted PTSD symptom severity with a similar strength, in addition to the effects of other PTSD predictors. Conclusions: The results suggest that interpersonal variables are predictors of PTSD symptom severity in both cultures and should be included in etiologic models of PTSD.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Herzog ◽  
Tim Kaiser ◽  
Winfried Rief ◽  
Eva-Lotta Brakemeier ◽  
Tobias Kube

Dysfunctional expectations are a particularly important subset of cognitions that influence the development and maintenance of various mental disorders. This study aimed to develop and validate a scale to assess dysfunctional expectations in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the “Posttraumatic Expectations Scale” (PTES). In a cross-sectional study, 70 PTSD patients completed the PTES, the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI), as well as measures of the severity of symptoms of PTSD and depression. The results show that the PTES has excellent internal consistency and correlates significantly with the PTCI and PTSD symptom severity. A regression analysis revealed that the PTES explained variance of PTSD symptom severity above the PTCI, supporting the incremental validity of the PTES. While the original version of the PTES comprises 81 items, short scales were constructed using the BISCUIT method. The current findings suggest that the PTES is a reliable and valid novel self-report measure in patients with PTSD.


2003 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven Taylor

Empirically supported psychosocial treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) all entail some form of trauma-related exposure therapy. Although these treatments are often useful, none are effective for all patients. Even those who respond are often left with residual symptoms. A better understanding of the causes of PTSD may lead to more effective treatments. The present article reviews the nascent but steadily growing research on the role of anxiety sensitivity (fear of arousal-related sensations) in PTSD. Available research suggests that anxiety sensitivity may play an important role and that treatments that directly target anxiety sensitivity (such as interoceptive exposure) may improve outcome, particularly if these treatments are implemented before commencing trauma-related exposure therapy.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer J. Vasterling ◽  
Mihaela Aslan ◽  
Lewina O. Lee ◽  
Susan P. Proctor ◽  
John Ko ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectives: Military deployment is associated with increased risk of adverse emotional and cognitive outcomes. Longitudinal associations involving posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), relatively mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), and neurocognitive compromise are poorly understood, especially with regard to long-term outcomes, and rigorous research is necessary to better understand the corresponding relationships. The objective of this study was to examine short-term and long-term (>5 years) longitudinal associations among PTSD, neurocognitive performance, and TBI following military deployment. Methods: In this prospective study, N=315 U.S. Army soldiers were assessed at military installations before (2003–2005) and after (2004–2006) an index deployment to the Iraq War, and again an average of 7.6 years later (2010–2014) as a nationally dispersed cohort of active duty soldiers, reservists, and veterans. Thus, the study design allowed for two measurement intervals over which to examine changes. All assessments included the PTSD Checklist, civilian version, and individually-administered performance-based neurocognitive tests. TBI history was derived from clinical interview. Results: Autoregressive analyses indicated that visual reproduction scores were inversely related to subsequent PTSD symptom severity at subsequent assessments. Conversely, increases in PTSD symptom severity over each measurement interval were associated with poorer verbal and/or visual recall at the end of each interval, and less efficient reaction time at post-deployment. TBI, primarily mild in this sample, was associated with adverse PTSD symptom outcomes at both post-deployment and long-term follow-up. Conclusions: These results suggest longitudinal relationships among PTSD symptoms, TBI, and neurocognitive decrements may contribute to sustained emotional and neurocognitive symptoms over time. (JINS, 2018, 24, 311–323)


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