Abstract
Cognitive avoidance is a common response to sexual assault and reminders of trauma, but there is a paucity of research regarding predictors of automatic and conscious cognitive avoidance in response to trauma-related stimuli. The present study examined whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms, physiological responses, and subjective emotional responses predicted peritraumatic dissociation and thought suppression in a sample of 86 female sexual assault victims. Participants provided information about their current symptoms of PTSD and depression as well as their emotional reactions and physiological responses to hearing a personalized sexual assault narrative. PTSD and self-reported anger predicted thought suppression; peritraumatic dissociation was predicted by PTSD symptoms, changes in skin conductance, and self-reported arousal. Heart rate failed to predict either cognitive avoidance response. The results suggest that peritraumatic dissociation and thought suppression are associated with different physiological and emotional responses to trauma cues, perhaps because they tap different memory systems. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 444-457 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Journal of Trauma and Dissociation |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 26 2010 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
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To dissociate or suppress? predicting automatic vs. conscious cognitive avoidance. / Hetzel-Riggin, Melanie Dyan; Wilber, Emily L.
In: Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, Vol. 11, No. 4, 26.10.2010, p. 444-457.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - To dissociate or suppress? predicting automatic vs. conscious cognitive avoidance
AU - Hetzel-Riggin, Melanie Dyan
AU - Wilber, Emily L.
PY - 2010/10/26
Y1 - 2010/10/26
N2 - Cognitive avoidance is a common response to sexual assault and reminders of trauma, but there is a paucity of research regarding predictors of automatic and conscious cognitive avoidance in response to trauma-related stimuli. The present study examined whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms, physiological responses, and subjective emotional responses predicted peritraumatic dissociation and thought suppression in a sample of 86 female sexual assault victims. Participants provided information about their current symptoms of PTSD and depression as well as their emotional reactions and physiological responses to hearing a personalized sexual assault narrative. PTSD and self-reported anger predicted thought suppression; peritraumatic dissociation was predicted by PTSD symptoms, changes in skin conductance, and self-reported arousal. Heart rate failed to predict either cognitive avoidance response. The results suggest that peritraumatic dissociation and thought suppression are associated with different physiological and emotional responses to trauma cues, perhaps because they tap different memory systems. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
AB - Cognitive avoidance is a common response to sexual assault and reminders of trauma, but there is a paucity of research regarding predictors of automatic and conscious cognitive avoidance in response to trauma-related stimuli. The present study examined whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms, physiological responses, and subjective emotional responses predicted peritraumatic dissociation and thought suppression in a sample of 86 female sexual assault victims. Participants provided information about their current symptoms of PTSD and depression as well as their emotional reactions and physiological responses to hearing a personalized sexual assault narrative. PTSD and self-reported anger predicted thought suppression; peritraumatic dissociation was predicted by PTSD symptoms, changes in skin conductance, and self-reported arousal. Heart rate failed to predict either cognitive avoidance response. The results suggest that peritraumatic dissociation and thought suppression are associated with different physiological and emotional responses to trauma cues, perhaps because they tap different memory systems. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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U2 - 10.1080/15299732.2010.495376
DO - 10.1080/15299732.2010.495376
M3 - Article
VL - 11
SP - 444
EP - 457
JO - Journal of Trauma and Dissociation
JF - Journal of Trauma and Dissociation
SN - 1529-9732
IS - 4
ER -