Several authors have argued that traumatic experiences are processed and remembered in a qualitatively different way from neutral events. To investigate this issue, we interviewed 121 Croatian war veterans diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) about amnesia, intrusions (i.e., flashbacks and nightmares), and the sensory qualities of their most horrific war memories. Additionally, they completed a self-report scale measuring dissociative experiences. In contrast to what one would expect on the basis of theories emphasizing the special status of traumatic memories, amnesia, and high frequency intrusions were not particularly typical for our sample of traumatized individuals. Moreover, traumatic memories were not qualitatively different from neutral memories with respect to their stability and sensory qualities. The severity of PTSD symptoms was not significantly correlated with dissociative experiences. Our findings do not support the existence of special memory mechanisms that are unique to experiencing traumatic events.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2006.02.005 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Manifestations of the archaic in character within the analytic field: From memories in behaviour to chronic and acute enactments.
Int J Psychoanal
December 2024
Brazilian Psychoanalytic Society of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
The objective of this paper is to discuss the ways in which primitive aspects of the mind, in particular, the archaic elements of character, become manifest within the analytic field. After a review of the concept, it is proposed that a "normal" character manifests through memories in behaviours/feelings, which seek the object to satisfy their needs. The characterological structure keeps primitive traumatic inscriptions under control.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWhat makes a trauma 'pathological'? - Perceived peritraumatic threat influences the development of intrusive memories.
Behav Res Ther
January 2025
Department of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Franz-Mehring-Straße 47, 17489, Greifswald, Germany; Department of Psychology, University of Hildesheim, Universitätsplatz 1, 31141, Hildesheim, Germany.
Intrusions are a hallmark symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While dysfunctional cognitions are known posttraumatic contributors, peritraumatic processes are less understood. Perceived threat, alongside emotional factors, is theorized as significant, but experimental studies are lacking.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInvoluntary autobiographical memories as a transdiagnostic factor in mental disorders.
Clin Psychol Rev
January 2025
Center on Autobiographical Memory Research, Department of Psychology, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Involuntary autobiographical memories are memories of personal events that come to mind with no preceding retrieval attempts. They have been studied broadly in autobiographical memory for decades and shown to be common and mostly positive in everyday life. Clinical literature has focused on negative intrusive memories of stressful events and tended to neglect other forms of involuntary autobiographical memories.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComparing a new visuospatial intervention administered 3 days after a trauma film to reduce the occurrence of intrusive visual memories: a single-center randomized, controlled trial in healthy participants.
Front Psychol
January 2025
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, LWL-University Hospital, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
Introduction: Intrusive memories occur frequently after potentially traumatic events and form a core symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) if they persist. The translational approach of visuospatial interventions tries to target those intrusive memories in order to reduce their frequency predominantly using an intervention including as one component the computer game Despite promising results, the application of has critical drawbacks, e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe differential fading of disgust and fear reactions to a personal trauma in a non-clinical population.
Memory
January 2025
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia.
Persistent negative emotions are a key post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptom. occurs during/following traumatic events and predicts PTS symptoms, but is overlooked relative to other negative emotions like fear. Here, we investigate how trauma-related disgust fades-or persists-in memory (i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!