scholarly journals Information Processing in PTSD: Evidence for Biased Attentional, Interpretation, and Memory Processes

2016 ◽  
Vol a4 (3) ◽  
pp. 218-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Bomyea ◽  
Alyson Johnson ◽  
Ariel J. Lang
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Memory Studies ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Information Processing Biases ◽  
Interpretation Biases ◽  
Subjective Risk

This comprehensive review surveys current literature on information processing biases in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The review is organized by information processing systems including attention, judgment and interpretation, and memory. Studies outlined suggest that information processing biases may be key factors involved in the development and maintenance of PTSD. However, inconsistencies exist in the literature within each domain, often depending on assessment paradigm employed or other methodological features. Studies on attention bias demonstrate both facilitated engagement toward and difficulty disengaging from threatening stimuli. Literature on judgment and interpretation biases indicates that those with PTSD are more likely to interpret ambiguous situations as threatening, in addition to over-estimating subjective risk. Memory studies reveal mixed findings; a number of studies found that those with PTSD exhibit a bias toward remembering trauma-relevant or negative stimuli compared to those without PTSD, while others do not replicate this effect. Existing evidence for information processing biases in each of these domains are integrated and future directions for empirical study outlined.

Concurrent Treatment for PTSD and Prolonged Grief Disorder: Review of Outcomes for Exposure- and Nonexposure-Based Treatments

2019 ◽  
pp. 003022281985490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmine R. Eddinger ◽  
Madeleine M. Hardt ◽  
Joah L. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Concurrent Treatment ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Prolonged Grief Disorder ◽  
Prolonged Grief ◽  
Traumatic Grief

This review gives an overview of treatments used to concurrently reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and prolonged grief disorder (PGD). For purposes of this review, emphasis is placed on locating and comparing literature on exposure- and nonexposure-based treatments. Across 14 studies, the overall findings suggest that treatments are generally effective in treating PTSD and PGD concurrently and that treatments incorporating exposure-based components performed similarly to those without exposure-based components. However, methodological limitations preclude the ability to draw firm conclusions about the added impact of exposure-based components in traumatic grief treatment. Future directions for research on concurrent treatments for PTSD and PGD are discussed.

Family Models of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Candice M. Monson ◽  
Steffany J. Fredman ◽  
Rachel Dekel ◽  
Naomi Ennis ◽  
Alexandra Macdonald
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Family Relationship ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Relationship Problems ◽  
Bidirectional Association ◽  
Family Models

This chapter reviews the extant literature on the interpersonal aspects of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), with a focus on couple and family models of PTSD. Topics include the association of PTSD with a variety of family relationship problems in a range of traumatized populations. The role of relevant interpersonal constructs in the onset and maintenance of PTSD (e.g., social support, communication patterns) and the psychological effects of PTSD symptoms on family members and their interactions are discussed. In addition, models that take into account a range of relationship variables and the likely bidirectional association between individual and family functioning in PTSD are presented. Future directions for theory and research, as well as the clinical implications of this work, are outlined.

Future of Classification in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

2012 ◽  
pp. 53-66
Author(s):  
Terence M. Keane ◽  
Mark W. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Statistical Manual ◽  
Diagnostic And Statistical Manual ◽  
Dsm 5 ◽  
The Status ◽  
History Of ◽  
Definition Of

This chapter reviews the status of modifications to the definition of PTSD and proposed changes for DSM-5. We include a brief history of the diagnosis and trace its evolution in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). We discuss some of the current controversies related to the definition of PTSD including its location among the anxiety disorders, the utility of Criterion A and its subcomponents, and the factor structure of the symptoms. We review the rationale for the addition of new symptoms and modifications to existing criteria now and conclude with comments on future directions for research on PTSD.

scholarly journals The Roots of Chronic Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Childhood Trauma, Information Processing, and Self-protective Strategies

2017 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 247054701668296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia McKinsey Crittenden ◽  
Mary Brownescombe Heller
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Information Processing ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Developmental Process ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Adult Attachment Interview ◽  
Chronic Ptsd ◽  
Protective Strategies ◽  
Childhood Traumas

Background Although childhood endangerment often precedes adult posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the mechanism from danger to disorder is unclear. We proposed a developmental process in which unprotected and uncomforted danger in childhood would be associated with “shortcuts” in information processing that, in adulthood, could result in PTSD if the adult experienced additional exposure to danger. Information processing was defined as the basic associative, dissociative, and integrative processes used by all humans. Individual differences in parents’ (or primary caregivers’) protective and comforting behavior were expected to force unprotected children to use psychological shortcuts that linked early trauma to later vulnerability for PTSD. Method We compared 22 adults with chronic PTSD to (a) 22 adults with other psychiatric diagnoses and (b) 22 normative adults without any diagnosis, in terms of information processing around childhood danger. The Adult Attachment Interview was used to derive information processing variables, including self-protective strategies, childhood traumas, and depression. Results The two patient groups differed from the normative group on all variables. Adults with chronic PTSD differed from other psychiatric patients in having more childhood traumas and using more transformations of associative and dissociative processes. Within the PTSD group, there were three psychologically different subgroups. Conclusion Our findings suggest that (1) prediction of risk for adult PTSD may be possible, (2) treatment might be facilitated by provision of a protective and supportive therapist, (3) who included a focus on correction of information processing errors and use of more adaptive strategies, and (4) subgroups of adults with PTSD may require different forms of treatment.

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