Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026

Design and Implementation of an fMRI Study Examining Thought Suppression in Young Women with, and At-risk, for Depression
Published on: May 19, 2015
Thought suppression mediates the relationship between negative mood and PTSD in sexually assaulted women
M Zachary Rosenthal1, Jennifer S Cheavens, Thomas R Lynch
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA. rosen025@mc.duke.edu
Abstract:
Sexually victimized individuals often report chronic attempts to avoid unpleasant internal experiences (e.g., thoughts, emotions, memories) as a means of affect regulation. The aim of this study was to expand upon previous findings by examining the relationships among negative mood, thought suppression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a sample of adult women with a history of sexual assault after age 14 and assault-related intrusions in the past week. Chronic thought suppression partially mediated the relationship between negative mood and PTSD symptom severity after covarying the use of worry to control unpleasant thoughts. Findings extend previous studies and suggest that chronic thought suppression may help explain the link between negative mood and PTSD.
Related Concept Videos
Repressed Memory
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events, are a...
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Panic Disorder
Stereotype Threat and Self-fulfilling Prophecies
Traumatic Memory
