Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cognitive control and tonic immobility (TI) have both been implicated in the development of PTSD, but it is not known how these factors are related. The present study investigated if a specific form of cognitive control (attentional control) would moderate the relationship between TI and intrusive memories.
METHODS: Participants (N = 43) completed the Attentional Control Scale (ACS) before watching an aversive film. They completed the Tonic Immobility Scale (TIS, with an immobility and fear subscale: TIS-TI and TIS-Fear) afterwards and recorded intrusive memories of the film in the subsequent week.
RESULTS: TIS-TI was related to intrusion frequency, while ACS was not. However, ACS had a moderating role; the relationship between TIS-TI and intrusion frequency was significant in low ACS but not in high ACS participants. The TIS-Fear subscale was not related to intrusion frequency in low ACS or high ACS participants.
LIMITATIONS: Replication of the results is merited in selected extreme groups and males.
CONCLUSIONS: The results may imply that enhanced attentional control serves as a protective factor against the development of intrusive memories after trauma.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 379-83 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry |
| Volume | 42 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sept 2011 |
Keywords
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Affect
- Attention
- Fear
- Female
- Humans
- Immobility Response, Tonic
- Male
- Mental Recall
- Personality Inventory