Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2025

Use of a Psychophysiological Script-driven Imagery Experiment to Study Trauma-related Dissociation in Borderline Personality Disorder
Published on: March 8, 2018
The effect of time since index trauma on trauma-related beliefs
Travis A Cole1, Lillian Reuman1, Daniel J Lee1
1Behavioral Science Division, National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System.
Objective:
Greater duration of negative trauma-related beliefs may inhibit improvements in these cognitions during posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment. The goal of the current study was to examine the impact of time since trauma on change in negative trauma-related beliefs during PTSD treatment.
Method:
A sample of 126 adults diagnosed with PTSD were randomized to Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) or Written Exposure Therapy (WET) and completed the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI) at pretreatment and 6, 12, 24, 36, and 60 weeks following the first treatment session.
Results:
Consistent with past findings, negative cognitions related to the self, others, and self-blame decreased during and after trauma-focused therapy. Greater time since the trauma was associated with less improvement in negative trauma-related beliefs about the world and less early improvement in negative trauma-related beliefs about the self and self-blame. The effect of time since trauma on reduction in negative trauma-related beliefs about the world was stronger among participants randomized to CPT.
Conclusions:
These results indicate that trauma-focused therapies become less potent in reducing trauma-related beliefs as time progresses since trauma exposure, particularly in CPT, for beliefs about the world. Results indicate PTSD treatment should be provided in closer proximity to trauma exposure before negative trauma-related beliefs become inflexible. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Traumatic Memory
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Symptoms and Behavioral Manifestations
A spectrum of distressing symptoms characterizes PTSD. Recurrent flashbacks, where individuals involuntarily relive traumatic events,...
Lazarus's Cognitive Appraisal Theory
Primary Appraisal:...
Introduction to Stress and Lifestyle
Cognitive Dissonance
Bonanno's Theory of Grieving
Resilience

