1070 An Examination of the Relationship Between Language Use in Post-Trauma Nightmares and Psychological Sequelae in a Treatment Seeking Population

Abstract Introduction Studying language use in dreams and nightmares has become an increasingly used tool to understand underlying emotional and cognitive processes. Specifically, in regards to post-trauma nightmares (PTNMs), nightmare transcriptions can offer a lens to understand a survivor’s interpretation of their trauma. The current study will utilize a method of quantitative text analysis to analyze the relationship between specific psychological constructs and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and nightmare qualities. It is hypothesized that there will be a positive correlation between words related to perceptual processes and negative emotions in nightmares and PTSD symptom and nightmare severity. There will be a negative correlation between cognitive processes and positive emotion words, and PTSD symptom and nightmare severity. Methods Fifty-three nightmares were collected from participants that were recruited from the community in a Midwestern city as part of an ongoing investigation of the effectiveness of a brief cognitive-behavioral intervention for PTNM, Exposure, Relaxation, and Rescripting Therapy (ERRT). All participants were over the age of 18, have experienced a criterion A trauma, and have nightmares at least once weekly. Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) was utilized to analyze the nightmare transcriptions. The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the DSM-5 (PCL-5) and the Trauma-related Nightmare Survey (TRNS) were used to measure symptom severity. A Pearson’s correlation analysis was used for this exploratory study. Results Words related to perceptual processes were significantly positively correlated with PTSD symptom and nightmare severity (p<.05) Neither negative nor positive emotion words were significantly related to PTSD and nightmare symptoms (p>.05). Cognitive processing words were significantly negatively correlated with PTSD and nightmare symptoms (p<.05). Conclusion The results of this study support the hypothesis that language use in nightmares reveals important information about underlying cognitive and emotional functioning. The results of this study may have an important impact on treatment considerations for those who have experienced trauma. Analyzing language use in PTNM may help to understand the etiology and maintenance of PTSD symptoms. Support Support for this study comes from the University of Tulsa Institute of Trauma, Adversity, and Injustice.

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A cognitive processing therapy-based treatment program for veterans diagnosed with co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder and substance use disorder: The relationship between trauma-related cognitions and outcomes of a 6-week treatment program

Journal of Anxiety Disorders ◽

10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.09.001 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 59 ◽

pp. 34-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kelly R. Peck ◽

Scott F. Coffey ◽

Adam P. McGuire ◽

Andrew C. Voluse ◽

Kevin M. Connolly

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Substance Use ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Cognitive Processing ◽

Substance Use Disorder ◽

Treatment Program ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Cognitive Processing Therapy ◽

The Relationship

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Patterns and temporal precedence of symptom change during cognitive processing therapy for military sexual trauma-related posttraumatic stress disorder

Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy ◽

10.1017/s1352465819000183 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (5) ◽

pp. 541-547

Author(s):

Nicholas Holder ◽

Ryan Holliday ◽

Jessica Wiblin ◽

Alina Surís

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Cognitive Processing ◽

Sexual Trauma ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Ptsd Symptom ◽

Cognitive Processing Therapy ◽

Military Sexual Trauma ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Symptom Criteria

AbstractBackground:Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is an effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including for veterans with military sexual trauma (MST)-related PTSD. Most CPT research to date has focused on pre- to post-treatment change in total PTSD symptoms; however, PTSD symptom criteria may not change equivalently over the course of treatment. For example, changes in re-experiencing symptoms have been shown to precede changes in other PTSD criteria during other PTSD treatments (i.e. virtual reality exposure therapy, venlafaxine ER). An improved understanding of the mechanism of change in PTSD symptoms during CPT may assist in optimizing treatment.Aims:The purpose of this study was to identify the pattern and temporal precedence of change in PTSD symptom criteria during and after CPT using cross-lagged panel analyses.Method:Data from veterans (n = 32) enrolled in a randomized clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of CPT for MST-related PTSD were utilized for this secondary analysis. Using hierarchical linear modelling, each symptom criterion was entered as a predictor of subsequent change in the other PTSD symptom criteria.Results:All symptom criteria followed a logarithmic pattern of change. Hyperarousal symptoms were found to both predict and temporally precede change in avoidance symptoms, but not re-experiencing symptoms. Re-experiencing and avoidance symptoms did not predict change in other PTSD symptom criteria.Conclusions:These findings provide initial support that targeting and reducing hyperarousal symptoms may be a key component of PTSD intervention with CPT. Additional research is needed to identify factors that predict change in PTSD-related re-experiencing symptoms.

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The Relationship Between Working Alliance and Symptom Improvement in Cognitive Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Frontiers in Psychiatry ◽

10.3389/fpsyt.2021.602648 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Esther T. Beierl ◽

Hannah Murray ◽

Milan Wiedemann ◽

Emma Warnock-Parkes ◽

Jennifer Wild ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Treatment Outcome ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Working Alliance ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Ptsd Symptom ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

Symptom Change ◽

Symptom Scores ◽

The Relationship

Background: Working alliance has been shown to predict outcome of psychological treatments in multiple studies. Conversely, changes in outcome scores have also been found to predict working alliance ratings.Objective: To assess the temporal relationships between working alliance and outcome in 230 patients receiving trauma-focused cognitive behavioral treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Methods: Ratings of working alliance were made by both the patient and therapist after sessions 1, 3, and 5 of a course of Cognitive Therapy for PTSD (CT-PTSD). Autoregressive, cross-lagged panel models were used to examine whether working alliance predicted PTSD symptom severity at the next assessment point and vice versa. Linear regressions tested the relationship between alliance and treatment outcome.Results: Both patients' and therapists' working alliance ratings after session 1 predicted PTSD symptom scores at the end of treatment, controlling for baseline scores. At each assessment point, higher therapist working alliance was associated with lower PTSD symptoms. Crossed-lagged associations were found for therapist-rated alliance, but not for patient-rated alliance: higher therapists' alliance ratings predicted lower PTSD symptom scores at the next assessment point. Similarly, lower PTSD symptoms predicted higher therapist working alliance ratings at the next assessment point. Ruminative thinking was negatively related to therapists' alliance ratings.Conclusions: Working alliance at the start of treatment predicted treatment outcome in patients receiving CT-PTSD and may be an important factor in setting the necessary conditions for effective treatment. For therapists, there was a reciprocal relationship between working alliance and PTSD symptom change in their patients during treatment, suggesting that their alliance ratings predicted symptom change, but were also influenced by patients' symptom change.

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Disaggregating the Relationship Between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Clusters and Chronic Orofacial Pain: Implications for the Prediction of Health Outcomes with PTSD Symptom Clusters

Annals of Behavioral Medicine ◽

10.1007/s12160-010-9221-5 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 41 (1) ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Melissa A. Cyders ◽

Jessica L. Burris ◽

Charles R. Carlson

Keyword(s):

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Orofacial Pain ◽

Ptsd Symptom ◽

Symptom Clusters ◽

Chronic Orofacial Pain ◽

Disorder Symptom ◽

The Relationship

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Social Support, Emotional Intelligence, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms

Journal of Individual Differences ◽

10.1027/1614-0001/a000185 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 31-39 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Nicole L. Hofman ◽

Austin M. Hahn ◽

Christine K. Tirabassi ◽

Raluca M. Gaher

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Emotional Intelligence ◽

Protective Factors ◽

Posttraumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Events ◽

Ptsd Symptoms ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. Exposure to traumatic events and the associated risk of developing Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms is a significant and overlooked concern in the college population. It is important for current research to identify potential protective factors associated with the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms unique to this population. Emotional intelligence and perceived social support are two identified protective factors that influence the association between exposure to traumatic events and PTSD symptomology. The current study examined the mediating role of social support in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD symptoms. Participants included 443 trauma-exposed university students who completed online questionnaires. The results of this study indicated that social support mediates the relationship between emotional intelligence and reported PTSD symptoms. Thus, emotional intelligence is significantly associated with PTSD symptoms and social support may play an integral role in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD. The current study is the first to investigate the role of social support in the relationship between emotional intelligence and PTSD symptoms. These findings have important treatment and prevention implications with regard to PTSD.

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