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Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm
Published on: October 3, 2020
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Greater avoidance behavior in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms
Jony Sheynin1,2, Christine Shind3, Milen Radell3
1a Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
Stress (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|March 22, 2017
Summary
Individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms exhibit a general bias toward avoidance behaviors, even in non-fearful situations. This tendency is more pronounced in females and can be objectively measured.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Avoidance is a key symptom of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
- Limited understanding exists regarding generalized cognitive biases for avoidance in individuals with PTSD outside of trauma-related contexts.
- Gender differences in PTSD symptomatology are recognized but require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether individuals with PTSD symptoms display a general cognitive bias towards acquiring and expressing avoidance behaviors.
- To examine operant acquisition and extinction of avoidance in a controlled, non-trauma-related cognitive task.
- To explore potential gender differences in avoidance behavior associated with PTSD symptoms.
Main Methods:
- A computer-based operant task was employed to assess avoidance acquisition and extinction.
- Participants with (PTSS) and without (noPTSS) severe self-reported PTSD symptoms were recruited (N=119).
- Participants controlled a spaceship, earning points or avoiding aversive events through specific actions.
Main Results:
- Participants with PTSS demonstrated significantly more avoidance behavior than those without PTSS.
- Avoidance behavior was particularly elevated in females with PTSS compared to females without PTSS.
- While avoidance decreased during extinction, significant interactions with PTSS and gender were not observed.
Conclusions:
- PTSD symptoms are associated with a general propensity to acquire and express avoidance, independent of explicit trauma or fear.
- The observed bias towards avoidance is present in both civilian and veteran populations.
- Gender plays a significant role, with females exhibiting more pronounced avoidance, underscoring the importance of gender-specific considerations in PTSD research and treatment.
- The study highlights the utility of objective behavioral assessments for evaluating avoidance, potentially complementing traditional self-report measures.
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