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Positive emotion in posttraumatic stress disorder: A global or context-specific problem?

Cameron P Pugach¹, Casey L May¹, Blair E Wisco¹

¹Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.

Journal of Traumatic Stress

|March 29, 2023

Summary

People with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experience lower positive emotions globally, not just around trauma reminders. This supports the global model of PTSD emotional deficits.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Trauma Studies

Background:

Problems with positive emotion are a key feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Two models explain these deficits: the global model (permanent shift) and the context-specific model (reduced only during trauma reminders).

Purpose of the Study:

To test the global versus context-specific models of positive emotion deficits in adults with and without PTSD.
To investigate the relationship between trauma reminders and positive emotion levels.

Main Methods:

Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) was used over 3 days with 80 adult community members (39 with PTSD).
EMA captured momentary positive emotion, positive situations, and thoughts of trauma reminders.

Main Results:

Participants with PTSD reported lower average positive emotion and positive situations.
No difference in positive emotion reactivity was found between groups.
Increased thoughts of trauma reminders predicted lower positive emotion, supporting the global model.

Conclusions:

Findings support the global model of PTSD, indicating a pervasive deficit in positive emotion.
Results clarify positive emotional functioning in trauma-exposed adults and suggest avenues for future PTSD research.