TOLERANCE OF UNCERTAINTY AND EXECUTIVE DYSFUNCTION IN PEOPLE WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA

Serhii Lytvyn

doi:10.31435/rsglobal_wos/30062020/7125

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of tolerance of uncertainty on the executive functions in people with psychological trauma. To study the neuropsychological correlates of tolerance of uncertainty in people with psychological trauma, 55 subjects aged 21 to 66 years (25 men and 30 women) were involved. The control sample included 56 subjects aged 22–67 years (21 men and 35 women). Research methods: "New questionnaire of tolerance-intolerance of uncertainty", "Iowa Gambling Task", Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-IV (CAPS-DX), Method of verbal-color interference (Stroop test). Results: psychological trauma causes a decrease in the level of tolerance of uncertainty (ToU), an increase in the level of intolerance of uncertainty (IoU) and an increase in the level of interpersonal intolerance of uncertainty (IIoU). ToU can be seen as a protective factor in the case of psychological trauma. ToU can alleviate the manifestations of executive dysfunction (when treating both ambivalent and indeterminate stimuli) in people with a history of psychological trauma. IoU can be considered as a psychological construct that interferes with the normal functioning of executive functions in the control group (persons without a history of psychological trauma). Psychological trauma causes an increase in the level of IIoU in a way that is not associated with executive dysfunction.

Highlights

The problem of executive dysfunction in people with psychological trauma is important for a holistic understanding of the neuropsychological mechanisms of mental disorders
The focus is primarily on such executive functions as planning, selection, adherence and change of behavioral strategy, ensuring spontaneity and flexibility of behavior; future orientation and inhibition of automatic reactions; a somatic markers system that is closely linked to decision-making in situations where explicit learning is not available [4, 13, 15, 17, 18]
Are executive dysfunctions caused by emotional trauma associated with decreased tolerance of uncertainty (ToU)? Which aspect of executive dysfunctions plays a significant role in reducing ToU? The aim of the study: to detect neuropsychological correlates of ToU in individuals with emotional trauma

Summary

Introduction

The problem of executive dysfunction in people with psychological trauma is important for a holistic understanding of the neuropsychological mechanisms of mental disorders. Since there is a significant difference in the indicator "total time of the Stroop test" (the average in the clinical sample is much higher than the average in the control: 276 > 186), it can be stated that psychological trauma significantly impairs the performance of executive functions.

Objectives

Results

Conclusion