Selective processing of threat cues in posttraumatic stress disorder.

McNally, Richard J.; Kaspi, Susan P.; Riemann, Bradley C.; Zeitlin, Sharon B.

doi:10.1037/0021-843x.99.4.398

Cited by 335 publications

(231 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…PTSD-patients also demonstrated initial eye fixations on threat words more than controls, which further supports the automatic nature of processing trauma-related information (Bryant et al, 1995). Interestingly, Stroop-interference for trauma words appeared to be related to severity of PTSD-symptoms as measured by the Mississippi scale (McNally et al, 1990) and selfreported intrusive symptoms (Cassidy et al, 1992). All together, these studies support the notion that PTSD-patients exhibit automatic interference for trauma-related information, and exhibit more interference for trauma-related material than do trauma-exposed people without the diagnosis PTSD.…”

Section: Automatic Processing Of Trauma-related Informationmentioning

confidence: 56%

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Are the neural substrates of memory the final common pathway in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

Elzinga

Bremner

2002

Journal of Affective Disorders

427

277

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A model for the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a disorder of memory is presented drawing both on psychological and neurobiological data. Evidence on intrusive memories and deficits in declarative memory function in PTSD-patients is reviewed in relation to three brain areas that are involved in memory functioning and the stress response: the hippocampus, amygdala, and the prefrontal cortex. Neurobiological studies have shown that the noradrenergic stress-system is involved in enhanced encoding of emotional memories, sensitization, and fear conditioning, by way of its effects on the amygdala. Chronic stress also affects the hippocampus, a brain area involved in declarative memories, suggesting that hippocampal dysfunction may partly account for the deficits in declarative memory in PTSD-patients. Deficits in the medial prefrontal cortex, a structure that normally inhibits the amygdala, may further enhance the effects of the amygdala, thereby increasing the frequency and intensity of the traumatic memories. Thus, by way of its influence on these brain structures, exposure to severe stress may simultaneously result in strong emotional reactions and in difficulties to recall the emotional event. This model is also relevant for understanding the distinction between declarative and non-declarative memoryfunctions in processing trauma-related information in PTSD. Implications of our model are reviewed.

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Section: Automatic Processing Of Trauma-related Informationmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…Accordingly, PFC dysfunction may also play a role in the interference on Stroop-tasks (e.g. McNally et al, 1990McNally et al, , 1993 and lack of inhibition (Vasterling et al, 1998) of PTSD-patients.…”

Section: The Prefrontal Cortexmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are the neural substrates of memory the final common pathway in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

Elzinga

Bremner

2002

Journal of Affective Disorders

427

277

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…angry faces, images of combat threat) (e.g. Ellenbogen et al, 2010;McNally et al, 1990) and to exhibit greater amygdala activity when doing so (e.g. Armony et al, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive Function Is Preserved in Older Adults With a Reported History of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Feeney

Kamiya

Robertson

et al. 2013

Journal of Traumatic Stress

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Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is associated with mood and cognitive deficits in children and young adults. Evidence suggests that the effects of early-life adversity persist throughout adulthood; however, the impact of CSA on cognition in older adults is largely unknown. This study investigated cognitive function in older adults with a reported history of CSA. Data are from a population-based study (The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing) of 6,912 adults aged 50 and older. Participants answered questions about CSA as part of a stressful life events questionnaire. Global cognition, executive function, memory (both objective and self-rated), attention and processing speed were measured via a comprehensive battery of tests. Anxiety and depression, other childhood adversity, health behaviours, chronic disease and medication use were also assessed. 6.5% of the total sample reported CSA. These individuals were more likely to have experienced other forms of childhood adversity and to exhibit poor mental health compared to those who reported no history of CSA. Multivariate regression analyses revealed, however, that CSA was associated with better global cognition, memory, executive function and processing speed, despite poorer psychological health in this group. Future studies should aim to investigate possible reasons for this finding.

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“…13,14 Not only do repressors differ from highly anxious people, they also differ from low anxious people who do not exhibit high levels of defensiveness. For example, highly anxious people, including those with PTSD, 15 exhibit delayed color naming of threatening words on the emotional Stroop test, 16 suggestive of an attentional bias for threat that exacerbates their propensity to experience distress.…”

Section: Does the Repressor Coping Stylementioning

confidence: 99%