The intentional forgetting to emotional words of PTSD children after Wenchuan earthquake 18 months

Abstract

Objective To compare the ability of intentional forgetting to emotional words of post traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) children and normal children by item method after Wenchuan earthquake 18 months.Methods Twenty PTSD children who met with CCMD-3 and DSM-Ⅳ criteria and twenty control group children were investigated. Sixteen positive and sixteen negative words were adopted as materials. PTSD children accomplished the words learning, arithmetical operation and memory tests ( include free recall, words completion and words recognition) in orderly. Results ( 1 )The free recall accuracy of PTSD children to positive words was significant high than negative words( (0.32 ±0.11 ), (0.28 ±0.10), P＜0.05). The free recall accuracy of control group to positive words was significant high than negative words ( (0.37 ± 0.09 ), (0.34 ± 0.13 ), P＜ 0.05 ). ( 2 )The words completion accuracy of PTSD children to positive words was significant low than negative words( (0.38± 0.12 ), (0.49 ± 0.12 ), P ＜ 0.05 ). The words completion accuracy of control group to positive words was significant low than negative words ( (0.39 ± 0.15 ), (0.56 ± 0.14 ), P ＜ 0.01 ). ( 3 ) There was no difference of words recognition accuracy of PTSD children to positive and negative words ( ( 0.64 ± 0. 19 ), (0.63 ± 0. 16), P ＞0. 05). There was no difference of words recognition accuracy of control group to positive and negative words ((0.64 ± 0. 16), (0.65 ±0. 19), P ＞ 0. 05). Conclusion There is a significant intentional forgetting effect on emotional words in PTSD children and normal children, and this effect were influenced not only by selective rehearsal but also retrieval inhibition. Key words: Post traumatic stress disorder; Earthquake; Children; PTSD children; Emotional words; Intentional forgetting