Unwanted memories of assault: what intrusion characteristics are associated with PTSD?

Intrusive memories are common in the immediate aftermath of traumatic events, but neither their presence or frequency are good predictors of the persistence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Two studies of assault survivors, a cross-sectional study (N=81) and a 6-month prospective longitudinal study (N=73), explored whether characteristics of the intrusive memories improve the prediction. Intrusion characteristics were assessed with an Intrusion Interview and an Intrusion Provocation Task. The distress caused by the intrusions, their "here and now" quality, and their lack of a context predicted PTSD severity. The presence of intrusive memories only explained 9% of the variance of PTSD severity at 6 months after assault. Among survivors with intrusions, intrusion frequency only explained 8% of the variance of PTSD symptom severity at 6 months. Nowness, distress and lack of context explained an additional 43% of the variance. These intrusion characteristics also predicted PTSD severity at 6 months over and above what could be predicted from PTSD diagnostic status at initial assessment. Further predictors of PTSD severity were rumination about the intrusive memories, and the ease and persistence with which intrusive memories could be triggered by photographs depicting assaults. The results have implications for the early identification of trauma survivors at risk of chronic PTSD.     

Experience and appraisal of worry among high worriers with and without generalized anxiety disorder

Recent research has revealed that a large number of highly worried individuals do not qualify for a diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This raises the intriguing question of why some high worriers are more impaired and distressed by their worrying than others, particularly when the severity of their worry is the same. The present investigation sought to address this question by examining whether GAD and non-GAD high worriers differ in their actual worry experiences, their subjective appraisals of worry experiences, or both experiences and appraisals of worry. GAD and non-GAD worriers, selected for matching levels of trait worry severity, completed an attention-focus task with thought sampling before and after a brief worry induction. They also completed questionnaires assessing their experiences during and after the worry induction, as well as their general beliefs about worry. GAD worriers experienced less control over negative intrusive thoughts immediately after worrying, reported greater somatic hyperarousal following worry, and endorsed several negative beliefs about worry more strongly than their worry-matched controls. Results suggest that GAD is associated with unique experiences and appraisals that distinguish it from other forms of severe worry.     

道德失范：社会安全的腐蚀剂

本文认为 ,我国进入社会转型加速期以来 ,较为普遍的道德失范现象正以自己特有的方式影响着社会的良性运行与协调发展 ,一定程度上正威胁着社会安全。克服道德失范现象 ,应该从构筑社会精神、落实《公民道德建设实施纲要》、做好制度安排几个方面下功夫。     

EFFECTS OF A FIXED‐TIME SCHEDULE ON ABERRANT AND ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR

Fixed‐time (FT) schedules of reinforcement have been used to decrease destructive behavior. However, the effects of FT schedules on acquisition and maintenance of appropriate behavior remain unclear. In this study, we present a case in which an FT schedule produced an increase in adaptive behavior and resulted in a significant decrease in destructive behavior.     

Cognitive flexibility mediates the relation between intolerance of uncertainty and safety signal responding in those with panic disorder

There is a growing literature associating anxiety disorders with an inability to inhibit defensive responding during safety conditions of threatening tasks. However, investigations on the relation between panic disorder (PD) and defensive responding to safety have yielded mixed results. A recent study from our laboratory revealed that intolerance of uncertainty (IU) moderates this association, such that only individuals with PD and a high IU exhibit heightened startle potentiation during safety. The mechanism underlying this relationship is unknown. Given that safety conditions typically alternate with periods of threat, cognitive flexibility (i.e., the ability to adjust one's habitual responding to a situation, given the input of new information) may be involved in the ongoing reappraisal of danger and adjustment of defensive responding. Thus, the present study sought to investigate whether deficits in cognitive flexibility mediate the association between IU and defensive responding to safety among a sample of 71 adults diagnosed with PD. As hypothesised, cognitive flexibility mediated the relationship between IU and heightened startle potentiation during safety conditions. This finding suggests that within this subgroup, a failure to inhibit defensive responding during safety conditions may be due to deficits in cognitive flexibility.     

A Preliminary Investigation of the Relationship Between Emotion Dysregulation and Partner Violence Perpetration Among Individuals with PTSD and Alcohol Dependence

This study examines the link between emotion dysregulation and intimate partner violence (IPV) among 77 individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol dependence. Participants were recruited from a residential substance abuse treatment program as part of the eligibility screening for an institutional review board approved clinical trial examining the efficacy of an exposure-based intervention in individuals dually diagnosed with alcohol dependence and PTSD. Participants reported on PTSD symptoms, alcohol use disorder symptoms, emotion dysregulation, and physical and verbal aggression in their intimate relationships during the past year. Findings demonstrated that difficulties with emotion regulation are associated with physical and verbal IPV perpetration in a clinical sample. Although facets of emotion regulation emerged as significant predictors of IPV in the models, alcohol and PTSD symptom severity did not emerge as predictors of IPV. These findings suggest targeted emotion regulation skills training could benefit substance abusers who engage in IPV and that emotion dysregulation might be an important target for future research aimed at understanding elevated rates of IPV perpetration in mental health samples.     

The structural relationships among generalized anxiety, obsessions-compulsions, and depression at the syndrome and sub-syndrome level

This study explored anxiety's relationship to depression by assessing a group of 592 undergraduate psychology students at Washington State University. Multiple measures of generalized anxiety (GA), obsessions–compulsions (O–C), and depression were used to conduct several confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs). A three-factor model of GA, O–C, and depression was found superior in fit to a one-factor “negative-affect” model, a two-factor model of anxiety and depression, and a second-order three-factor model. Further CFAs divided GA, O–C, and depression into six independent symptom category factors utilizing instrument subscales (e.g., worry, somatic anxiety, obsessions, compulsions, cognitive depression, and somatic depression). The fit for this model was superior to three alternative measurement models. The correlations among the six symptom category constructs revealed differential patterns among the cognitive and somatic symptoms.     

强迫症患者的注意转换及在线元认知调节

为探索强迫症患者是否同时存在注意转换和在线元认知调节障碍,本研究使用线索性任务转换范式及数字跟踪击键范式并结合ERP数据,对16名强迫症患者的注意转换能力和在线元认知调节能力进行了评价。结果表明,强迫症患者同时存在注意转换及在线元认知调节的缺陷。     

注意缺陷多动障碍-发展性阅读障碍共患儿童的干预效果及其内在机理

注意缺陷多动障碍和发展性阅读障碍是两类常见的儿童神经发育障碍, 二者共患率高达25%~48%。共患问题不仅使儿童自身面临着严重的认知、行为和心理损害, 还给家庭、学校和社会带来了沉重的负担, 对共患儿童的干预是极为必要且重要的。以共患病理机制假说为基础, 可将既往共患儿童的干预研究划分为以下两大类：(1)基于表型假说的干预方案, 如药物干预、阅读干预以及二者联合干预, 相应方案干预效果的迁移性和稳定性均有待深入考究; (2)基于共同缺陷假说的干预方案, 如针对核心共同认知缺陷之一的加工速度问题的干预已初显成效, 但相关研究较少, 干预效果需更多研究进一步系统性地考察。最后就共患儿童的干预方案现状进行了反思和展望。     

基于长尾效应的儿童创伤后应激障碍转归机制及干预策略

儿童PTSD具有“长尾效应”, 疾病负担重、发展结局存在较大异质性, 但是少有研究对我国儿童PTSD的转归进行系统性研究, 其转归类型、路径尚不明晰, 更缺少促进儿童PTSD复原的干预研究。因此, 本研究拟对儿童及青少年进行追踪调查和准实验研究, 探讨儿童PTSD的发展轨迹及转归类型和机制, 验证基于学校的综合干预服务对促进儿童PTSD恢复的效果, 为儿童PTSD干预及个性化诊疗提供证据。