1
|
Nardo D, Anderson MC. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Think/No-Think task, but forgot to ask. Behav Res Methods 2024; 56:3831-3860. [PMID: 38379115 PMCID: PMC11133138 DOI: 10.3758/s13428-024-02349-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
The Think/No-Think (TNT) task has just celebrated 20 years since its inception, and its use has been growing as a tool to investigate the mechanisms underlying memory control and its neural underpinnings. Here, we present a theoretical and practical guide for designing, implementing, and running TNT studies. For this purpose, we provide a step-by-step description of the structure of the TNT task, methodological choices that can be made, parameters that can be chosen, instruments available, aspects to be aware of, systematic information about how to run a study and analyze the data. Importantly, we provide a TNT training package (as Supplementary Material), that is, a series of multimedia materials (e.g., tutorial videos, informative HTML pages, MATLAB code to run experiments, questionnaires, scoring sheets, etc.) to complement this method paper and facilitate a deeper understanding of the TNT task, its rationale, and how to set it up in practice. Given the recent discussion about the replication crisis in the behavioral sciences, we hope that this contribution will increase standardization, reliability, and replicability across laboratories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Nardo
- Department of Education, University of Roma Tre, Rome, Italy.
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Michael C Anderson
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mamat Z, Anderson MC. Improving mental health by training the suppression of unwanted thoughts. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh5292. [PMID: 37729415 PMCID: PMC10511195 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh5292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Anxiety, posttraumatic stress, and depression markedly increased worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. People with these conditions experience distressing intrusive thoughts, yet conventional therapies often urge them to avoid suppressing their thoughts because intrusions might rebound in intensity and frequency, worsening the disorders. In contrast, we hypothesized that training thought suppression would improve mental health. One hundred and twenty adults from 16 countries underwent 3 days of online training to suppress either fearful or neutral thoughts. No paradoxical increases in fears occurred. Instead, suppression reduced memory for suppressed fears and rendered them less vivid and anxiety provoking. After training, participants reported less anxiety, negative affect, and depression with the latter benefit persisting at 3 months. Participants high in trait anxiety and pandemic-related posttraumatic stress gained the largest and most durable mental health benefits. These findings challenge century-old wisdom that suppressing thoughts is maladaptive, offering an accessible approach to improving mental health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zulkayda Mamat
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Michael C. Anderson
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Behavioural and Clinical Neurosciences Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wiechert S, Loewy L, Wessel I, Fawcett JM, Ben-Shakhar G, Pertzov Y, Verschuere B. Suppression-induced forgetting: a pre-registered replication of the think/no-think paradigm. Memory 2023; 31:989-1002. [PMID: 37165713 DOI: 10.1080/09658211.2023.2208791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder is characterised by recurring memories of a traumatic experience despite deliberate attempts to forget (i.e., suppression). The Think/No-Think (TNT) task has been used widely in the laboratory to study suppression-induced forgetting. During the task, participants learn a series of cue-target word pairs. Subsequently, they are presented with a subset of the cue words and are instructed to think (respond items) or not think about the corresponding target (suppression items). Baseline items are not shown during this phase. Successful suppression-induced forgetting is indicated by the reduced recall of suppression compared to baseline items in recall tests using either the same or different cues than originally studied (i.e., same- and independent-probe tests, respectively). The current replication was a pre-registered collaborative effort to evaluate an online experimenter-present version of the paradigm in 150 English-speaking healthy individuals (89 females; MAge = 31.14, SDAge = 7.73). Overall, we did not replicate the suppression-induced forgetting effect (same-probe: BF01 = 7.84; d = 0.03 [95% CI: -0.13; 0.20]; independent-probe: BF01 = 5.71; d = 0.06 [95% CI: -0.12; 0.24]). These null results should be considered in light of our online implementation of the paradigm. Nevertheless, our findings call into question the robustness of suppression-induced forgetting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sera Wiechert
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Leonie Loewy
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ineke Wessel
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jonathan M Fawcett
- Department of Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Canada
| | - Gershon Ben-Shakhar
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yoni Pertzov
- Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Bruno Verschuere
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Popescu M, Popescu EA, DeGraba TJ, Hughes JD. Cognitive flexibility in post-traumatic stress disorder: Sustained interference associated with altered modulation of cortical oscillatory activity during task-switching. Neuroimage Clin 2023; 37:103297. [PMID: 36563647 PMCID: PMC9795531 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with deficits in cognitive flexibility, with evidence suggesting that these deficits may be a risk factor for the development of core PTSD symptoms. Understanding the neurophysiological substrate of this association could aid the development of effective therapies for PTSD. In this study, we investigated the relationship between post-traumatic stress severity (PTSS) in service members with combat exposure and the modulation of cortical oscillatory activity during a test of cognitive flexibility. Participants were assigned to three groups based on PTSS scores: low (well below a threshold consistent with a diagnosis of PTSD, n = 30), moderate (n = 32), and high (n = 29) symptom severity. Magnetoencephalography data were recorded while participants performed a cued rule-switching task in which two matching rules were repeated or switched across consecutive trials. Participants with high PTSS had longer reaction times for both switch and repeat trials, and showed evidence of sustained residual interference during repeat trials. During the cue-stimulus interval, participants with moderate and high PTSS showed higher relative theta power in switch trials over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). After test-stimulus onset, participants with high PTSS showed less suppression of beta band activity, which was present over multiple prefrontal, parietal, and temporal regions in switch trials, but it was confined to ventromedial prefrontal cortex in repeat trials. Higher theta band activity is a marker of effortful voluntary shifting of attention, while lower suppression of beta band activity reflects difficulties with inhibition of competing perceptual information and courses of action. These findings are consistent with a role for altered suppression of beta band activity, which can be due to less effective top-down bias signals exerted by DLPFC, in the etiology of cognitive flexibility deficits in PTSD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mihai Popescu
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Elena-Anda Popescu
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Thomas J DeGraba
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - John D Hughes
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA; Behavioral Biology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Visser RM, Henson RN, Holmes EA. A Naturalistic Paradigm to Investigate Postencoding Neural Activation Patterns in Relation to Subsequent Voluntary and Intrusive Recall of Distressing Events. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY. COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2022; 7:960-969. [PMID: 34454167 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2021.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While neuroimaging has provided insights into the formation of episodic memories in relation to voluntary memory recall, less is known about neural mechanisms that cause memories to occur involuntarily, for example, as intrusive memories of trauma. Here, we investigated brain activity shortly after viewing distressing events as a function of whether memories for those events later intruded involuntarily. The postencoding period is particularly important because it is a period when clinical interventions could be applied. METHODS A total of 32 healthy volunteers underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging while viewing distressing film clips, interspersed with 5 minutes of awake (postencoding) rest. Voluntary memories of the films were assessed using free recall and verbal and visual recognition tests after a week, while intrusive (involuntary) memories were recorded in a diary throughout that week. RESULTS When analyzing functional magnetic resonance imaging responses related to watching the films, we replicated findings that those "hotspots" (salient moments within the films) that would later become intrusive memories elicited higher activation in parts of the brain's salience network. Surprisingly, while the postencoding persistence of multivoxel correlation structures associated with entire film clips predicted subsequent voluntary recall, there was no evidence that they predicted subsequent intrusions. CONCLUSIONS Results replicate findings regarding the formation of intrusive memories during encoding and extend findings regarding the consolidation of information in postencoding rest in relation to voluntary memory. While we provided a first step using a naturalistic paradigm, further research is needed to elucidate the role of postencoding neural processes in the development of intrusive memories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renée M Visser
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Richard N Henson
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit and Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Emily A Holmes
- Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Göbel K, Hensel L, Schultheiss OC, Niessen C. Meta‐Analytic
Evidence Shows no Relationship Between
Task‐Based
and
Self‐Report
Measures of Thought Control. APPLIED COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/acp.3952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kyra Göbel
- Institute of Psychology Friedrich‐Alexander University of Erlangen‐Nürnberg Nägelsbachstr. 49c 91052 Erlangen Germany
| | - Lisa Hensel
- Institute of Psychology Friedrich‐Alexander University of Erlangen‐Nürnberg Nägelsbachstr. 49c 91052 Erlangen Germany
| | - Oliver C. Schultheiss
- Institute of Psychology Friedrich‐Alexander University of Erlangen‐Nürnberg Nägelsbachstr. 49c 91052 Erlangen Germany
| | - Cornelia Niessen
- Institute of Psychology Friedrich‐Alexander University of Erlangen‐Nürnberg Nägelsbachstr. 49c 91052 Erlangen Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Reuveni I, Herz N, Peri T, Schreiber S, Harpaz Y, Geisser R, Bonne O, Goldstein A. Neural oscillations while remembering traumatic memories in post-traumatic stress disorder. Clin Neurophysiol 2022; 139:58-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
|
8
|
Anderson MC, Floresco SB. Prefrontal-hippocampal interactions supporting the extinction of emotional memories: the retrieval stopping model. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:180-195. [PMID: 34446831 PMCID: PMC8616908 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01131-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neuroimaging has revealed robust interactions between the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus when people stop memory retrieval. Efforts to stop retrieval can arise when people encounter reminders to unpleasant thoughts they prefer not to think about. Retrieval stopping suppresses hippocampal and amygdala activity, especially when cues elicit aversive memory intrusions, via a broad inhibitory control capacity enabling prepotent response suppression. Repeated retrieval stopping reduces intrusions of unpleasant memories and diminishes their affective tone, outcomes resembling those achieved by the extinction of conditioned emotional responses. Despite this resemblance, the role of inhibitory fronto-hippocampal interactions and retrieval stopping broadly in extinction has received little attention. Here we integrate human and animal research on extinction and retrieval stopping. We argue that reconceptualising extinction to integrate mnemonic inhibitory control with learning would yield a greater understanding of extinction's relevance to mental health. We hypothesize that fear extinction spontaneously engages retrieval stopping across species, and that controlled suppression of hippocampal and amygdala activity by the prefrontal cortex reduces fearful thoughts. Moreover, we argue that retrieval stopping recruits extinction circuitry to achieve affect regulation, linking extinction to how humans cope with intrusive thoughts. We discuss novel hypotheses derived from this theoretical synthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Anderson
- MRC Cognition & Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Stan B Floresco
- Department of Psychology, and Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yang W, Jia H, Feng Q, Wei D, Qiu J, Hulbert JC. Functional connectivity between right-lateralized ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and insula mediates reappraisal's link to memory control. J Affect Disord 2021; 290:316-323. [PMID: 34020206 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.04.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Memory control (MC) ability is critical for people's mental and physical health. Previous research had conceptually demonstrated that MC ability has close relationship with reappraisal. However, experimental evidence supporting the relationship was limited. Thus, in the present study, we investigated how MC and reappraisal are linked, both in behavior and in the brain. METHODS The habitual use of reappraisal was assessed by Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and memory control ability was measured through directed forgetting task. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to test the seed-based functional connectivity in 181 healthy subjects. RESULTS Behavioral results revealed that more frequent reappraisal was associated with an enhanced ability to control negative memories. Resting-state seed-based functional connectivity showed that habitual use of reappraisal was positively related to the strength of functional connectivity between the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) and right insula. Most importantly, this functional connectivity mediated the effect of habitual use of reappraisal on control over negative memories. LIMITATIONS Present results mainly showed the habitual use of reappraisal was related with MC ability in negative items. Future study could further explore the relationship between MC ability of different categories of negative emotional memories and other kinds of ER strategies. CONCLUSIONS Our results support the notion that reappraisal provides opportunities for individuals to practice and enhance inhibitory control-a relationship underpinned by connectivity between the right VLPFC and right insula.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; School of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Hui Jia
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; School of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Qiuyang Feng
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; School of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Dongtao Wei
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; School of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China; School of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing 400715, China; Southwest University Branch, Collaborative Innovation Center of Assessment Toward Basic Education Quality at Beijing Normal University.
| | - Justin C Hulbert
- Psychology Program, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 12504, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Yang W, Zhuang K, Liu P, Guo Y, Chen Q, Wei D, Qiu J. Memory Suppression Ability can be Robustly Predicted by the Internetwork Communication of Frontoparietal Control Network. Cereb Cortex 2021; 31:3451-3461. [PMID: 33662104 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhab024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Memory suppression (MS) is essential for mental well-being. However, no studies have explored how intrinsic resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) predicts this ability. Here, we adopted the connectome-based predictive modeling (CPM) based on the resting-state fMRI data to investigate whether and how rs-FC profiles in predefined brain networks (the frontoparietal control networks or FPCN) can predict MS in healthy individuals with 497 participants. The MS ability was assessed by MS-induced forgetting during the think/no-think paradigm. The results showed that FPCN network was especially informative for generating the prediction model for MS. Some regions of FPCN, such as middle frontal gyrus, superior frontal gyrus and inferior parietal lobe were critical in predicting MS. Moreover, functional interplay between FPCN and multiple networks, such as dorsal attention network (DAN), ventral attention network (VAN), default mode network (DMN), the limbic system and subcortical regions, enabled prediction of MS. Crucially, the predictive FPCN networks were stable and specific to MS. These results indicated that FPCN flexibility interacts with other networks to underpin the ability of MS. These would also be beneficial for understanding how compromises in these functional networks may have led to the intrusive thoughts and memories characterized in some mental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China.,Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Kaixiang Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China.,Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Peiduo Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China.,Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Yuhua Guo
- MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Qunlin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China.,Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Dongtao Wei
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China.,Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jiang Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Cognition and Personality (SWU), Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400715, China.,Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University (SWU), Chongqing, 400715, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Costanzi M, Cianfanelli B, Santirocchi A, Lasaponara S, Spataro P, Rossi-Arnaud C, Cestari V. Forgetting Unwanted Memories: Active Forgetting and Implications for the Development of Psychological Disorders. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11040241. [PMID: 33810436 PMCID: PMC8066077 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11040241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrusive memories are a common feature of many psychopathologies, and suppression-induced forgetting of unwanted memories appears as a critical ability to preserve mental health. In recent years, biological and cognitive studies converged in revealing that forgetting is due to active processes. Recent neurobiological studies provide evidence on the active role of main neurotransmitter systems in forgetting, suggesting that the brain actively works to suppress retrieval of unwanted memories. On the cognitive side, there is evidence that voluntary and involuntary processes (here termed "intentional" and "incidental" forgetting, respectively) contribute to active forgetting. In intentional forgetting, an inhibitory control mechanism suppresses awareness of unwanted memories at encoding or retrieval. In incidental forgetting, retrieval practice of some memories involuntarily suppresses the retrieval of other related memories. In this review we describe recent findings on deficits in active forgetting observed in psychopathologies, like post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Moreover, we report studies in which the role of neurotransmitter systems, known to be involved in the pathogenesis of mental disorders, has been investigated in active forgetting paradigms. The possibility that biological and cognitive mechanisms of active forgetting could be considered as hallmarks of the early onset of psychopathologies is also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Costanzi
- Department of Human Sciences, Lumsa University, 00193 Rome, Italy; (B.C.); (S.L.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Beatrice Cianfanelli
- Department of Human Sciences, Lumsa University, 00193 Rome, Italy; (B.C.); (S.L.)
| | - Alessandro Santirocchi
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.S.); (C.R.-A.); (V.C.)
| | - Stefano Lasaponara
- Department of Human Sciences, Lumsa University, 00193 Rome, Italy; (B.C.); (S.L.)
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.S.); (C.R.-A.); (V.C.)
| | - Pietro Spataro
- Department of Economy, Universitas Mercatorum, 00100 Rome, Italy;
| | - Clelia Rossi-Arnaud
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.S.); (C.R.-A.); (V.C.)
| | - Vincenzo Cestari
- Department of Psychology, Sapienza University, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.S.); (C.R.-A.); (V.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Associations between memory loss and trauma in US asylum seekers: A retrospective review of medico-legal affidavits. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247033. [PMID: 33755695 PMCID: PMC7987192 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The U.S. immigration system mandates that persons seeking asylum prove their persecution claim is credible and their fear of returning home is well-founded. However, this population represents a highly trauma-exposed group, with neuropsychiatric symptoms consequent to prior torture or maltreatment that may interfere with cognitive function and their ability to recall their trauma. These memory lapses may be incorrectly perceived by asylum adjudicators as indicators of dishonesty and jeopardize the person’s credibility and asylum claim. Our retrospective mixed methods study seeks to present associations between trauma and memory loss in a sample of persons seeking asylum to the U.S. and describe how memory impairments manifest in this trauma-exposed population. Methods We randomly selected 200 medico-legal affidavits from 1346 affidavits collected in the past 30 years, as part of the Physicians for Human Rights Asylum Network connecting clinicians with legal providers for medical and/or psychiatric affidavits of U.S. asylum seekers and persons seeking other forms of humanitarian relief (hereafter, “asylum seekers”). Data was extracted from these affidavits using a coding manual informed by the Istanbul Protocol, the global standard for torture documentation. Seven affidavits were excluded due to missing age. We used multiple logistic regression to assess the association of memory loss with neuropsychiatric diagnoses: head trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression. We supplemented these findings with a qualitative content analysis of the affidavits documenting memory loss. Memory loss presented among the asylum seekers’ affidavits in several ways: memory gaps of the traumatic event; challenges with presenting a clear chronology of the trauma, avoidance of traumatic memories, and persistent short-term memory loss interfering with daily activity. Results A majority of the sample received a neuropsychiatric diagnosis: 69% (n = 132) of asylum-seekers received a diagnosis of PTSD and 55% (n = 106) of depression. Head trauma was reported among 30% (n = 58) of affidavits. Further, 68% (n = 131) reported being subject to physical violence and 20% (n = 39) were documented as being at risk of suicide. Memory loss was documented among 21% (n = 40) asylum-seekers. In adjusted models, both PTSD and depression, but not head trauma, were associated with memory loss (p<0.05). Conclusion Stakeholders in the asylum process, spanning the medical, legal and immigration enforcement sectors, must be aware of the interplay of trauma and memory loss and how they might impact immigration proceedings for this vulnerable population.
Collapse
|
13
|
Steward T, Das P, Malhi GS, Bryant RA, Felmingham KL. Dysfunctional coupling of the parahippocampal cortex and inferior frontal gyrus during memory suppression in posttraumatic stress disorder. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2020; 41:146-151. [PMID: 32967787 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.09.634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The current study aimed to identify alterations in brain activation and connectivity related to memory suppression in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using the Think/No-Think paradigm during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Reduced activation in the parahippocampal cortex during No-Think vs. Baseline trials was found in participants with PTSD compared to controls with no history of trauma (pFWE<0.05). Trauma-related intrusive memories (r = 0.562, p = 0.046) and avoidance behaviors (r = 0.636, p = 0.020) were positively correlated with parahippocampal cortex activation during memory suppression in the PTSD group. Psychophysiological interactions (PPI) analysis identified increased functional connectivity between the inferior frontal gyrus and the parahippocampus during memory suppression in the PTSD group compared to trauma-free controls (pFWE<0.05). Our findings support a network-based phenotype for altered memory suppression in individuals with PTSD rooted in dysfunctional parahippocampal-prefrontal coupling. These data validate neural models of PTSD and offer a novel neural circuit for brain-based interventions targeting trauma-related memory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Trevor Steward
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia
| | - Pritha Das
- Department of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Level 3, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonard's, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gin S Malhi
- Department of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Level 3, Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonard's, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Richard A Bryant
- School of Psychology, University of New South Wales and Brain Dynamics Centre, University of Sydney and Westmead Millennium Institute, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kim L Felmingham
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3010, Victoria, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zhang J, Wong SM, Richardson JD, Jetly R, Dunkley BT. Predicting PTSD severity using longitudinal magnetoencephalography with a multi-step learning framework. J Neural Eng 2020; 17. [PMID: 33166947 DOI: 10.1088/1741-2552/abc8d6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Objective The present study explores the effectiveness of incorporating temporal information in predicting Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) severity using magnetoencephalography (MEG) imaging data. The main objective was to assess the relationship between longitudinal MEG functional connectome data, measured across a variety of neural oscillatory frequencies and collected at two-timepoints (Phase I & II), against PTSD severity captured at the later time point. Approach We used an in-house developed informatics solution, featuring a two-step process featuring pre-learn feature selection (CV-SVR-rRF-FS, cross-validation with support vector regression and recursive random forest feature selection) and deep learning (long-short term memory recurrent neural network, LSTM-RNN) techniques. Main results The pre-learn step selected a small number of functional connections (or edges) from Phase I MEG data associated with Phase II PTSD severity, indexed using the PTSD CheckList (PCL) score. This strategy identified the functional edges affected by traumatic exposure and indexed disease severity, either permanently or evolving dynamically over time, for optimal predictive performance. Using the selected functional edges, LSTM modelling was used to incorporate the Phase II MEG data into longitudinal regression models. Single timepoint (Phase I and Phase II MEG data) SVR models were generated for comparison. Assessed with holdout test data, alpha and high gamma bands showed enhanced predictive performance with the longitudinal models comparing to the Phase I single timepoint models. The best predictive performance was observed for lower frequency ranges compared to the higher frequencies (low gamma), for both model types. Significance This study identified the neural oscillatory signatures that benefited from additional temporal information when estimating the outcome of PTSD severity using MEG functional connectome data. Crucially, this approach can similarly be applied to any other mental health challenge, using this effective informatics foundation for longitudinal tracking of pathological brain states and predicting outcome with a MEG-based neurophysiology imaging system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, CANADA
| | - Simeon M Wong
- Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
| | | | - Rakesh Jetly
- Canadian Forces Health Services HQ, Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
| | - Benjamin T Dunkley
- Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Quaedflieg CWEM, Schneider TR, Daume J, Engel AK, Schwabe L. Stress Impairs Intentional Memory Control through Altered Theta Oscillations in Lateral Parietal Cortex. J Neurosci 2020; 40:7739-7748. [PMID: 32868459 PMCID: PMC7531551 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2906-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that forgetting is not necessarily a passive process but that we can, to some extent, actively control what we remember and what we forget. Although this intentional control of memory has potentially far-reaching implications, the factors that influence our capacity to intentionally control our memory are largely unknown. Here, we tested whether acute stress may disrupt the intentional control of memory and, if so, through which neural mechanism. We exposed healthy men and women to a stress (n = 27) or control (n = 26) procedure before they aimed repeatedly to retrieve some previously learned cue-target pairs and to actively suppress others. While control participants showed reduced memory for suppressed compared with baseline pairs in a subsequent memory test, this suppression-induced forgetting was completely abolished after stress. Using magnetoencephalography (MEG), we show that the reduced ability to suppress memories after stress is associated with altered theta activity in the inferior temporal cortex when the control process (retrieval or suppression) is triggered and in the lateral parietal cortex when control is exerted, with the latter being directly correlated with the stress hormone cortisol. Moreover, the suppression-induced forgetting was linked to altered connectivity between the hippocampus and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC), which in turn was negatively correlated to stress-induced cortisol increases. These findings provide novel insights into conditions under which our capacity to actively control our memory breaks down and may have considerable implications for stress-related psychopathologies, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that are characterized by unwanted memories of distressing events.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT It is typically assumed that forgetting is a passive process that can hardly be controlled. There is, however, evidence that we may actively control, to some extent, what we remember and what we forget. This intentional memory control has considerable implications for mental disorders in which patients suffer from unwanted (e.g., traumatic) memories. Here, we demonstrate that the capacity to intentionally control our memory breaks down after stress. Using magnetoencephalography (MEG), we show that this stress-induced memory control deficit is linked to altered activity in the lateral parietal cortex and the connectivity between the hippocampus and right prefrontal cortex (PFC). These findings provide novel insights into conditions under which memory control fails and are highly relevant in the context of stress-related psychopathologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C W E M Quaedflieg
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg 20146, Germany
- Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, Maastricht 6229 ER, The Netherlands
| | - T R Schneider
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20246, Germany
| | - J Daume
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20246, Germany
| | - A K Engel
- Department of Neurophysiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20246, Germany
| | - L Schwabe
- Department of Cognitive Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg 20146, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Abstract
Over the past century, psychologists have discussed whether forgetting might arise from active mechanisms that promote memory loss to achieve various functions, such as minimizing errors, facilitating learning, or regulating one's emotional state. The past decade has witnessed a great expansion in knowledge about the brain mechanisms underlying active forgetting in its varying forms. A core discovery concerns the role of the prefrontal cortex in exerting top-down control over mnemonic activity in the hippocampus and other brain structures, often via inhibitory control. New findings reveal that such processes not only induce forgetting of specific memories but also can suppress the operation of mnemonic processes more broadly, triggering windows of anterograde and retrograde amnesia in healthy people. Recent work extends active forgetting to nonhuman animals, presaging the development of a multilevel mechanistic account that spans the cognitive, systems, network, and even cellular levels. This work reveals how organisms adapt their memories to their cognitive and emotional goals and has implications for understanding vulnerability to psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael C Anderson
- Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge. Cambridge CB2 7EF, United Kingdom;
| | - Justin C Hulbert
- Psychology Program, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 12504, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Mary A, Dayan J, Leone G, Postel C, Fraisse F, Malle C, Vallée T, Klein-Peschanski C, Viader F, de la Sayette V, Peschanski D, Eustache F, Gagnepain P. Resilience after trauma: The role of memory suppression. Science 2020; 367:367/6479/eaay8477. [PMID: 32054733 DOI: 10.1126/science.aay8477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In the aftermath of trauma, little is known about why the unwanted and unbidden recollection of traumatic memories persists in some individuals but not others. We implemented neutral and inoffensive intrusive memories in the laboratory in a group of 102 individuals exposed to the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks and 73 nonexposed individuals, who were not in Paris during the attacks. While reexperiencing these intrusive memories, nonexposed individuals and exposed individuals without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) could adaptively suppress memory activity, but exposed individuals with PTSD could not. These findings suggest that the capacity to suppress memory is central to positive posttraumatic adaptation. A generalized disruption of the memory control system could explain the maladaptive and unsuccessful suppression attempts often seen in PTSD, and this disruption should be targeted by specific treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alison Mary
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Jacques Dayan
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France.,Pôle Hospitalo-Universitaire de Psychiatrie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Centre Hospitalier Guillaume Régnier, Université Rennes 1, 35700 Rennes, France
| | - Giovanni Leone
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Charlotte Postel
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Florence Fraisse
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Carine Malle
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Thomas Vallée
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Carine Klein-Peschanski
- Université Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne, HESAM Université, EHESS, CNRS, UMR8209, 75231 Paris, France
| | - Fausto Viader
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Vincent de la Sayette
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Denis Peschanski
- Université Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne, HESAM Université, EHESS, CNRS, UMR8209, 75231 Paris, France
| | - Francis Eustache
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Pierre Gagnepain
- Normandie Université, UNICAEN, PSL Research University, EPHE, INSERM, U1077, CHU de Caen, GIP Cyceron, Neuropsychologie et Imagerie de la Mémoire Humaine, 14000 Caen, France.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Intrinsic sensory disinhibition contributes to intrusive re-experiencing in combat veterans. Sci Rep 2020; 10:936. [PMID: 31969671 PMCID: PMC6976606 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-57963-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Intrusive re-experiencing of traumatic events is a hallmark symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder, characterized by rich and vivid sensory details as reported in "flashbacks". While prevailing models of trauma intrusions focus on dysregulated emotional processes, we hypothesize that a deficiency in intrinsic sensory inhibition could drive overactivation of sensory representations of trauma memories, precipitating sensory-rich intrusions. In a sample of combat veterans, we examined resting-state alpha (8-12 Hz) oscillatory activity (in both power and posterior→frontal connectivity), given its role in sensory cortical inhibition, in association with intrusive re-experiencing symptoms. Veterans further participated in an odor task (including both combat and non-combat odors) to assess olfactory trauma memory and emotional response. We observed an association between intrusive re-experiencing symptoms and attenuated resting-state posterior→frontal alpha connectivity, which were both correlated with olfactory trauma memory. Importantly, olfactory trauma memory was identified as a mediator of the relationship between alpha connectivity and intrusive re-experiencing, suggesting that deficits in intrinsic sensory inhibition contributed to intrusive re-experiencing of trauma via heightened trauma memory. Therefore, by permitting unfiltered sensory cues to enter information processing and activate sensory representations of trauma, sensory disinhibition can constitute a sensory mechanism of intrusive re-experiencing in trauma-exposed individuals.
Collapse
|
19
|
Popescu M, Popescu EA, DeGraba TJ, Hughes JD. Altered modulation of beta band oscillations during memory encoding is predictive of lower subsequent recognition performance in post-traumatic stress disorder. Neuroimage Clin 2019; 25:102154. [PMID: 31951934 PMCID: PMC6965746 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.102154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We studied the relationship between electrophysiological markers of memory encoding, subsequent recognition performance, and severity of PTSD symptoms in service members with combat exposure (n = 40, age: 41.2 ± 7.2 years) and various levels of PTSD symptom severity assessed using the PTSD Check List for DSM V version (PCL-5). Brain activity was recorded using magnetoencephalography during a serial presentation of 86 images of outdoor scenes that were studied by participants for an upcoming recognition test. In a second session, the original images were shown intermixed with an equal number of novel images while participants performed the recognition task. Participants recognized 76.0% ± 12.1% of the original images and correctly categorized as novel 89.9% ± 7.0% of the novel images. A negative correlation was present between PCL-5 scores and discrimination performance (Spearman rs = -0.38, p = 0.016). PCL-5 scores were also negatively correlated with the recognition accuracy for original images (rs = -0.37, p = 0.02). Increases in theta and gamma power and decreases in alpha and beta power were observed over distributed brain networks during memory encoding. Higher PCL-5 scores were associated with less suppression of beta band power in bilateral ventral and medial temporal regions and in the left orbitofrontal cortex. These regions also showed positive correlations between the magnitude of suppression of beta power during encoding and subsequent recognition accuracy. These findings indicate that the lower recognition performance in participants with greater PTSD symptom severity may be due in part to ineffective encoding reflected in altered modulation of beta band oscillatory activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mihai Popescu
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Elena-Anda Popescu
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Thomas J DeGraba
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - John D Hughes
- National Intrepid Center of Excellence, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD, United States; Behavioral Biology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, 503 Robert Grant Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Müller-Bamouh V, Ruf-Leuschner M, Dohrmann K, Elbert T, Schauer M. Gewalterfahrungen und psychische Gesundheit im Verlauf bei unbegleiteten minderjährigen Flüchtlingen in Deutschland. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR KLINISCHE PSYCHOLOGIE UND PSYCHOTHERAPIE 2019. [DOI: 10.1026/1616-3443/a000564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Über die seelische Gesundheit von minderjährigen Flüchtlingen, die ohne sorgeberechtigte Person nach Deutschland gereist sind, liegen bisher kaum Daten und keinerlei längsschnittliche Untersuchungen vor. Fragestellung: Ziel ist es daher, die psychische Gesundheit im Zusammenhang mit stressvollen Erfahrungen (insbesondere familiäre und organisierte Gewalterfahrungen) sowie deren Entwicklung nach etwa zwei Jahren bei unbegleiteten minderjährig Geflüchteten in Deutschland zu untersuchen. Methode: In einer Querschnittsstudie wurden belastende Erlebnisse sowie posttraumatische, depressive und psychosomatische Symptome bei 57 unbegleiteten und 22 begleiteten minderjährig eingereisten Flüchtlingen mittels strukturierter klinischer Interviews untersucht. Nach durchschnittlich 20 Monaten wurde eine Subgruppe der unbegleiteten Minderjährigen erneut untersucht. Ergebnisse: Ein Drittel der Teilnehmer erfüllte die Kriterien einer PTBS-Diagnose nach DSM-IV. Nach Einbezug einer Gruppe begleiteter minderjähriger Flüchtlinge zeigte sich, dass vor allem organisierte und familiäre Gewalterfahrungen sowie die Dauer der Flucht bedeutsame Prädiktoren hinsichtlich der PTBS-Symptomschwere waren. Für das psychische Wohlbefinden insgesamt waren die erfahrene Gewalt in der Herkunftsfamilie, bestehende Freundschaften und das Vorhandensein von Privatsphäre relevant. Ergebnisse einer Folgeuntersuchung mit einer Teilgruppe der UMF etwa 20 Monate später zeigten, dass die psychische Beeinträchtigung im Durchschnitt unverändert hoch geblieben war. Fazit: Die Möglichkeit einer frühzeitigen psychischen Untersuchung mit Erfassung kindlicher Gewalterlebnisse sowie ein verbesserter Zugang zu einer traumafokussierten Behandlung mit Sprachmittlern sind wichtig, um Leid zu reduzieren und Integration zu ermöglichen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Katalin Dohrmann
- Klinische Psychologie, Universität Konstanz und vivo international e.V
| | - Thomas Elbert
- Klinische Psychologie, Universität Konstanz und vivo international e.V
| | - Maggie Schauer
- Klinische Psychologie, Universität Konstanz und vivo international e.V
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Narrative Expositionstherapie (NET) für Menschen nach Gewalt und Flucht. PSYCHOTHERAPEUT 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00278-017-0212-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|