Inhibitory control as possible risk and/or resilience factor for the development of trauma related symptoms–a study of the Utøya terror attack survivors

Hammar, Åsa; Schmid, Marit Therese; Petersdotter, Linn; Ousdal, Olga Therese; Milde, Anne Marita

doi:10.1080/23279095.2023.2253553

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 61 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Inhibitory control is the ability to withhold automatic or task-irrelevant responses to meet specific goals, often in the face of distractions (Aupperle et al, 2012; Degutis et al, 2015; Vasterling et al, 1998). Weaknesses in inhibitory control may increase the risk for PTSD and poor functional outcomes (DeGutis et al, 2023; Hammar et al, 2023; Monn et al, 2018; Samuelson et al, 2020; Schultebraucks et al, 2022), contribute to difficulties with inhibiting fear responses and intrusive memories (Catarino et al, 2015; van Rooij & Jovanovic, 2019), and reduce the effectiveness of trauma treatments (Crocker et al, 2018). Cognitive flexibility—which is often equated with set shifting (i.e., switching)—is critical for adapting to changes in the environment and for disengaging from trauma-related images and external cues (Hemi et al, 2023; Keith et al, 2015; Vasterling et al, 2009).…”

Section: Ptsd and Inhibitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Executive functioning in posttraumatic stress disorder: Understanding how inhibition, switching, and test modality affect reaction times.

Swick,

Lwi,

Larsen

et al. 2024

Neuropsychology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been linked to deficits in executive functioning, but the literature suggests these associations are inconsistent. Results vary depending on the task used, test modality, and the specific subdomain being measured, such as inhibitory control (interference resolution, response inhibition) or set shifting (task switching, rule switching). Notably, deficits are more consistently observed in computerized tasks that measure precise reaction times (RTs) than in classic paper-and-pencil measures, but few studies have parsed specific executive functioning deficits in PTSD using detailed analyses of RT data. Method: The present study used a cued-switching Stroop Task to examine both interference resolution and task switching in 28 veterans with PTSD and 28 age-matched controls. Each trial required attending to a randomly presented cue and responding to the specified target while ignoring irrelevant or opposing information. Analyses of RT distributions estimated both Gaussian (normal) and ex-Gaussian (exponential) parameters. Results: Veterans with PTSD had slower and more variable RTs than the controls on trials that required ignoring conflicting information (interference resolution, d′ = .68). These effects were confined to the normal distribution, not to excessively slow responses (as estimated by ex-Gaussian parameters). Veterans with PTSD also showed modestly slower RTs on trials that required switching between cues, but Bayesian evidence for this was weak, and measures by ex-Gaussian parameters were not significant. Conclusions: These results highlight the importance of examining executive functioning in PTSD with a more nuanced approach, as clarity around these deficits may have important implications for future intervention and rehabilitation strategies. Key PointsQuestion: Can reaction time data from computerized tasks help clarify the contradictory results often seen when examining executive function in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? Findings: Compared with the controls, the participants with PTSD had slower and more variable reaction times on trials that required inhibitory control (Stroop interference), but not on trials that required switching between sets. Importance: The results highlight the importance of examining multiple facets of executive functioning, as simpler measures may lead to mixed or overgeneralized findings. Next Steps: Directly compare tests of executive functioning that differ in modality (e.g., article, computerized) and type (e.g., inhibitory control, switching) to clarify the cognitive strengths and weaknesses in participants with PTSD.

show abstract