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Attention, arousal, and memory in posttraumatic stress disorder
B T Litz1, F W Weathers, V Monaco
1National Center for PTSD, Boston Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Massachusetts 02130, USA.
Journal of Traumatic Stress
|July 1, 1996
Summary
Vietnam combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) showed altered information processing, particularly with threat-related words. Their symptoms influenced cognitive responses, supporting PTSD information-processing models.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Military Medicine
Background:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent mental health condition among combat veterans.
- Information-processing models offer a framework for understanding the cognitive mechanisms underlying PTSD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the psychophysiological parameters of information processing in Vietnam combat veterans with current PTSD.
- To examine how PTSD symptoms and threat reactions impact cognitive performance.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a modified Stroop procedure (MSP), standard Stroop, recognition memory, and threat rating tasks.
- Recorded physiological responses during task completion in PTSD and control groups.
- Controlled for medication, depression, and baseline physiological activity.
Main Results:
- PTSD subjects displayed greater MSP interference with high-threat words compared to controls.
- A liberal response bias was observed for recognizing military-related words in PTSD subjects.
- PTSD symptoms and threat reactions correlated with MSP interference for high-threat words.
Conclusions:
- Findings support information-processing models of PTSD, highlighting cognitive alterations in veterans.
- Cognitive interference and threat sensitivity are key features of information processing in PTSD.
- Understanding these mechanisms can inform targeted interventions for veterans with PTSD.