Posttraumatic Avoidance Symptoms Research Articles

The Dissociation-Related Beliefs About Memory Questionnaire (DBMQ): Development and psychometric properties.

Discontinuities in memory are the hallmark symptoms of most dissociative disorders but are also reported by patients diagnosed with related disorders, including PTSD. Memory discontinuity is most evident in dissociative identity disorder (DID), where patients may report amnesia in 1 identity for information available in other identities (i.e., interidentity amnesia). Studies indicate that even though patients subjectively report interidentity amnesia for material learned in, or pertaining to, another identity, objective findings show evidence of transfer of that material between identities. Subjective reports of dissociative amnesia may be explained by specific dissociation-related metamemory beliefs, which hinder voluntary retrieval, personal acknowledgment, and processing of memories. This study aimed to develop a questionnaire indexing metamemory beliefs related to trait dissociation. Two studies in nonclinical populations provided information about the factor structure (Studies 1 and 2) of the newly developed Dissociation-related Beliefs about Memory Questionnaire (DBMQ). Information was also provided about the construct validity (Studies 2 and 3), and reliability of the scale (all 3 studies) in nonclinical as well as a clinical population. Results indicated sound psychometric properties of a short 16-item DBMQ with subscales assessing Fragmentation, Positive beliefs about amnesia, Lack of self-reference, and Fear of losing control, and correlations specifically with trait dissociation and posttraumatic avoidance symptoms. A sample of DID patients (N = 19) showed increased scores on the DBMQ. The DBMQ provides a short, reliable, and valid tool for indexing dissociation-related metamemory beliefs. These beliefs were associated with trait dissociation and posttraumatic avoidance symptoms. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

A Laboratory-Based Investigation of Links between Maternal Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Adolescent Offspring Anxiety

SYNOPSIS Objective . Maternal symptoms of posttraumatic stress are linked to problematic offspring outcomes, including internalizing problems, general behavioral problems, and altered psychobiological functioning. Maternal posttraumatic stress symptoms among trauma-exposed mothers as they relate to offspring functioning has not been evaluated, and laboratory-based affect elicitation procedures have not been used in this context. Design . Self-report of trauma-relevant symptoms in 40 mothers and their adolescents’ self-report indices of adolescent anxiety symptoms were obtained. Adolescents were also administered a laboratory-based induction of socially relevant anxious arousal, and maternal and adolescent anxiety in response to the task were recorded. Results . Maternal posttraumatic avoidance symptoms were associated with questionnaire- and laboratory-based indicators of adolescent anxiety. Conclusions . Maternal posttraumatic avoidance symptoms are associated with offspring anxiety; therefore, providers working with mothers with posttraumatic avoidance should consider screening adolescent offspring for anxiety symptoms.

Posttraumatic growth among people with serious mental illness, psychosis and posttraumatic stress symptoms

Recent research has shown high rates of exposure to trauma among people with serious mental illness (SMI). In addition, studies suggest that psychosis and mental illness-related experiences can be extremely traumatic. While some individuals develop posttraumatic symptomatology related to these experiences, some appear to experience posttraumatic growth (PTG). Little is known, however, about PTG as a possible outcome among people who experienced psychosis as well as posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). For further understanding of the relationship between PTSS and PTG among people with SMI who experienced psychosis, 121 participants were recruited from community mental health rehabilitation centers and administered trauma and psychiatric questionnaires. Results revealed that while high levels of traumatic exposure were common, most participants experienced some level of PTG which was contingent upon meaning making and coping self-efficacy. In addition, posttraumatic avoidance symptoms were found to be a major obstacle to PTG. The range of effect sizes for significant results ranged from η2=0.037 to η2=0.144. These findings provide preliminary evidence for the potential role of meaning making and coping self-efficacy as mediators of PTG in clinical, highly traumatized populations of people with SMI and psychosis. Implications of these findings for future research and clinical practice are discussed.

Can mindfulness bring post-traumatic stress disorder patients to focus on the present?

IntroductionOver the last years, literature has dedicated increased interest to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a mental disorder that was initially included in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of mental disorders in 1980. Trauma is any event that overwhelms the individual coping strategies. Patients with PTSD experience symptoms of hyper-vigilance, intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, re-experiencing the trauma event, avoidance of stimuli related with trauma or exaggerated startle response. Mindfulness is the process of being aware, paying attention in the present moment, in a non-judgmental way. Research has been showing that mindfulness has positive effects on mental health.Objectives and aimsAssessment of eventual benefits of mindfulness in patients with PTSD.MethodsLiterature research.ResultsMany studies have reported on correlations between self-reported mindfulness and mental health. Literature suggests that mindfulness training can enhance life skills and its effectiveness is being studied in several mental disorders. Its positive effects on enhancing emotion regulation and decreasing anxiety, hyperarousal and depressive symptoms, led to investigation in the context of PTSD's treatment. Some studies show decreased perceived stress and post-traumatic avoidance symptoms and increased positive states of mind. Most studies reviewed were related with war veterans with PTSD and showed that mindfulness-based treatments could enhance their quality of life. Other results imply that mindful awareness alone may not be sufficient to help reduce symptoms.ConclusionsMindfulness based therapies could be useful on improving PTSD symptoms but, to assess its efficacy, further research is needed, in different samples of patients.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Differential Effects of Anxiety Sensitivity Components in the Relation Between Emotional Non-Acceptance and Post-traumatic Stress Symptoms Among Trauma-Exposed Treatment-Seeking Smokers

Anxiety sensitivity (AS), defined as the extent to which individuals believe anxiety and anxiety-related sensations have harmful consequences, may play an important explanatory role in the relation between emotional non-acceptance and the expression of traumatic stress symptoms among trauma-exposed smokers. This investigation examined whether lower-order dimensions of AS (cognitive, physical, and social concerns) differentially explain the relation between emotional non-acceptance and post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptom clusters (re-experiencing, avoidance, hyperarousal) among trauma-exposed daily smokers (N = 169, 46% female; Mage = 41, SD = 12.3). AS and its lower-order facets of cognitive and social concerns were found to mediate the relations between emotional non-acceptance and avoidance and hyperarousal PTS symptoms. Using a multiple mediation model, the mediational effect of AS cognitive concerns for the relation between emotional non-acceptance and post-traumatic avoidance symptoms was found to be uniquely evident relative to social and physical concerns. All observed AS effects were evident above and beyond the variance accounted for by gender, number of traumatic event exposure types, negative affectivity, number of cigarettes smoked per day, and alcohol use problems. The present findings suggest cognitive-based AS concerns may play a mechanistic role in the relation between emotional non-acceptance and certain PTS symptoms among trauma-exposed daily smokers.

Evaluating Preschool Children’s Attitudes and Beliefs About Intimate Partner Violence

Few studies have considered how intimate partner violence (IPV) impacts children's overarching attitudes and beliefs about the prevalence and acceptability of aggression. This pilot study included 92 preschool children exposed to IPV who reported on attitudes and beliefs about violence using a new, theoretically driven measure. Findings illustrate that preschoolers were able to respond reliably on this measure, and that most report at least one maladaptive attitude or belief about violence. Maternal posttraumatic avoidance symptoms, increased child aggression, and decreased child self-blame were associated with maladaptive attitudes and beliefs. These findings, although preliminary, indicate that clinicians may need to address both children's individual adjustment following violence exposure as well as their attitudes and beliefs concerning the acceptability of violence in interpersonal relationships.

Self-report Mindfulness as a Mediator of Psychological Well-being in a Stress Reduction Intervention for Cancer Patients—A Randomized Study

There is increasing recognition of mindfulness and mindfulness training as a way to decrease stress and increase psychological functioning. The aims of this study were to examine the effects of mindfulness stress reduction training on perceived stress and psychological well-being and to examine if changes in mindfulness mediate intervention effects on these outcomes. Seventy women and one man with a previous cancer diagnosis (mean age 51.8 years, standard deviation = 9.86) were randomized into an intervention group or a wait-list control group. The intervention consisted of an 8-week mindfulness training course. Compared to participants in the control group, participants in the mindfulness training group had significantly decreased perceived stress and posttraumatic avoidance symptoms and increased positive states of mind. Those who participated in the intervention reported a significant increase in scores on the five-facet mindfulness questionnaire (FFMQ) when compared to controls. The increase in FFMQ score mediated the effects of the intervention on perceived stress, posttraumatic avoidance symptoms, and positive states of mind. This study indicates that the improvements in psychological well-being resulting from mindfulness stress reduction training can potentially be explained by increased levels of mindfulness as measured with the FFMQ. The importance of these findings for future research in the field of mindfulness is discussed.

Obsessive-Compulsive and Post Traumatic Avoidance Symptoms Influence the Response to Antihypertensive Therapy: Relevance in Uncontrolled Hypertension.

Aim: To investigate the association of uncontrolled hypertension with psychological factors associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality (type D personality, depression, posttraumatic stress-related symptoms). Methods: 205 consecutive outpatient hypertensives completed three questionnaires evaluating Type D personality (DS 16), post traumatic symptoms (revised Impact of Events Scale), symptoms of anxiety, hostility, depression and obsessive-compulsive traits (subscales of the Symptom Checklist). Uncontrolled hypertension was diagnosed when clinic sitting blood pressure was above 140/90 mmHg (130/80 in the presence of diabetes or nephropathy), despite reported adherence to treatment with at least three antihypertensive medications, including a diuretic. Results: Uncontrolled hypertension (39%), was predicted by lower scores at Symptom Checklist obsessive-compulsive subscale and higher number of post traumatic avoidance symptoms, older age, diabetes, higher systolic pressure at first visit and longstanding hypertension. Type D personality correlated with depression, hostility, anxiety, compulsiveness, history of malignancy, and older age, but not with uncontrolled hypertension. Conclusions: Uncontrolled hypertension is associated with low obsessionality and avoidance symptoms, which reduce compliance to treatment. On the contrary, type D personality is not correlated with uncontrolled hypertension, as it includes compulsiveness, which improves compliance. A multidisciplinary approach to the hypertensive patient is mandatory to establish if the psychological profile affects compliance.

Salivary cortisol and serum prolactin in relation to stress rating scales in a group of rescue workers

Background: Rescue service personnel are often exposed to traumatic events as part of their occupation, and higher prevalence rates of psychiatric illness have been found among this group. Methods: In 65 rescue workers, salivary cortisol at 8 am and 10 pm and serum prolactin at 8 am were related to the psychiatric self-rating scale General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) measuring psychiatric health, and the Impact of Events Scale (IES) and Post Traumatic Symptom Scale (PTSS) measuring posttraumatic symptoms. Results: Seventeen percent of the study population scored above the GHQ-28 cut-off limit but none scored beyond the cut-off limit in the IES and PTSS questionnaires. Salivary cortisol concentration at 10 pm correlated with statistical significance to anxiety ( p < .005) and depressive symptoms ( p < .01) measured with GHQ-28, as well as to posttraumatic symptoms, with avoidance behavior measured with IES ( p < .01) and PTSS ( p < .005). Two of the rescue workers were followed over time with the same sampling procedure after a major rescue commission. Conclusions: The correlation between evening salivary cortisol and anxiety, depressiveness, and posttraumatic avoidance symptoms indicates that these parameters can be used in screening and follow-up after traumatic stress events.