The efficacy of autobiographical memory specificity training (MEST) on post-traumatic stress symptoms in veterans with post traumatic stress disorder

BackgroundStress and cortisol administration are known to have impairing effects on memory retrieval in healthy humans. These effects are reported to be altered in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but they have not yet been investigated in borderline personality disorder (BPD).MethodIn a placebo-controlled cross-over study, 71 women with BPD and 40 healthy controls received either placebo or 10 mg of hydrocortisone orally before undertaking a declarative memory retrieval task (word list learning) and an autobiographical memory test (AMT). A working memory test was also applied.ResultsOverall, opposing effects of cortisol on memory were observed when comparing patients with controls. In controls, cortisol had impairing effects on memory retrieval whereas in BPD patients cortisol had enhancing effects on memory retrieval of words, autobiographical memory and working memory. These effects were most pronounced for specificity of autobiographical memory retrieval. Patients with BPD alone and those with co-morbid PTSD showed this effect. We also found that co-morbid MDD influenced the cortisol effects: in this subgroup (BPD + MDD) the effects of cortisol on memory were absent.ConclusionsThe present results demonstrate beneficial effects of acute cortisol elevations on hippocampal-mediated memory processes in BPD. The absence of these effects in patients with co-morbid MDD suggests that these patients differ from other BPD patients in terms of their sensitivity to glucocorticoids (GCs).

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Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms among Lithuanian Parents Raising Children with Cancer

Children ◽

10.3390/children7090116 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (9) ◽

pp. 116

Author(s):

Irina Banienė ◽

Nida Žemaitienė

Keyword(s):

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Symptom Expression ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Children With Cancer ◽

Stress Symptom ◽

Raising Children ◽

Stress Symptoms ◽

Post Traumatic

Background and objectives: The study aims to evaluate post-traumatic stress symptom expression among Lithuanian parents raising children with cancer, including social, demographic, and medical factors, and to determine their significance for the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Materials and methods: The study was carried out in two major Lithuanian hospitals treating children with oncologic diseases. The cross-sectional study included 195 parents, out of which 151 were mothers (77.4%) and 44 were fathers (22.6%). Post-traumatic stress symptoms were assessed using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised. To collect the sociodemographic, childhood cancer, and treatment data, we developed a questionnaire that was completed by the parents. Main study results were obtained using multiple linear regression. Results: A total of 75.4% of parents caring for children with cancer had pronounced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. The female gender (β = 0.83, p < 0.001) was associated with an increased manifestation of symptoms, whilst higher parental education (β = −0.21, p = 0.034) and the absence of relapse (β = −0.48, p < 0.001) of the child’s disease reduced post-traumatic stress symptom expression. Conclusions: Obtained results confirmed that experiencing a child’s cancer diagnosis and treatment is extremely stressful for many parents. This event may lead to impaired mental health and increased post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) risk; hence, it is necessary to provide better support and assistance to parents of children with cancer.

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Brief report: The relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and overgeneral autobiographical memory in older adults

Clinical Psychologist ◽

10.1111/cp.12000 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 26-30 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sarah R. Robinson ◽

Laura A. Jobson

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Autobiographical Memory ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Overgeneral Autobiographical Memory ◽

Post Traumatic ◽

The Relationship

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Post-traumatic stress disorder and post-traumatic stress symptoms in parents of children with cancer: A review

Neurology Psychiatry and Brain Research ◽

10.1016/j.npbr.2011.02.007 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 27-31 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Irem Yalug ◽

Ali Evren Tufan ◽

Kerem Doksat ◽

Kıvanç Yaluğ

Keyword(s):

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Children With Cancer ◽

Stress Symptoms ◽

Post Traumatic

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Emotional priming of autobiographical memory in post-traumatic stress disorder

Cognition & Emotion ◽

10.1080/02699939408408946 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 351-367 ◽

Cited By ~ 158

Author(s):

Richard J. McNally ◽

Brett T. Litz ◽

Adrienne Prassas ◽

Lisa M. Shin ◽

Frank W. Weathers

Keyword(s):

Autobiographical Memory ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Post Traumatic

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Risk factors for post-traumatic stress disorder among UK Armed Forces personnel

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291708002778 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 511-522 ◽

Cited By ~ 162

Author(s):

A. C. Iversen ◽

N. T. Fear ◽

A. Ehlers ◽

J. Hacker Hughes ◽

L. Hull ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Military Personnel ◽

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Stress Disorder ◽

Childhood Adversity ◽

Armed Forces ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Extreme Stress ◽

Stress Symptoms ◽

Post Traumatic

BackgroundThere is considerable interest in understanding further the factors that increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for military personnel. This study aimed to investigate the relative contribution of demographic variables; childhood adversity; the nature of exposure to traumatic events during deployment; appraisal of these experiences; and home-coming experiences in relation to the prevalence of PTSD ‘caseness’ as measured by a score of ⩾50 on the PTSD Checklist (PCL) in UK Armed Forces personnel who have been deployed in Iraq since 2003.MethodData were drawn from the first stage of a retrospective cohort study comparing UK military personnel who were deployed to the 2003 Iraq War with personnel serving in the UK Armed Forces on 31 March 2003 but who were not deployed to the initial phase of war fighting. Participants were randomly selected and invited to participate. The response rate was 61%. We have limited these analyses to 4762 regular service individuals who responded to the survey and who have been deployed in Iraq since 2003.ResultsPost-traumatic stress symptoms were associated with lower rank, being unmarried, having low educational attainment and a history of childhood adversity. Exposure to potentially traumatizing events, in particular being deployed to a ‘forward’ area in close contact with the enemy, was associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Appraisals of the experience as involving threat to one's own life and a perception that work in theatre was above an individual's trade and experience were strongly associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Low morale and poor social support within the unit and non-receipt of a home-coming brief (psycho-education) were associated with greater risk of post-traumatic stress symptoms.ConclusionsPersonal appraisal of threat to life during the trauma emerged as the most important predictor of post-traumatic stress symptoms. These results also raise the possibility that there are important modifiable occupational factors such as unit morale, leadership, preparing combatants for their role in theatre which may influence an individual's risk of post-traumatic stress symptoms. Therefore interventions focused on systematic preparation of personnel for the extreme stress of combat may help to lessen the psychological impact of deployment.

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