Attentional control affects the relationship between tonic immobility and intrusive memories

作者：Hagenaars Muriel A^*; Putman Peter

来源：Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 2011, 42(3): 379-383.

DOI：10.1016/j.jbtep.2011.02.013

• Tonic immobility
• Freezing
• Attentional control
• Intrusions
• Images
• PTSD
• Trauma memories

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.

• 出版日期2011-9