Work

Does Trauma Change the Way Individuals with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Deal with Positive Stimuli?

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: (1) Background: although current theories of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) had focused on depressed mood and intrusion, the mechanism through which depression increases the risk of PTSD remains unclear. Research has concentrated on the hyper-active negative valence system (NVS) (e.g., increased fear and threat responses), but a significant role for hypo-active positive valence system (PVS) (e.g., less neural activation towards rewards) was conceivable. (2) Methods: To investigate the implicit processing in a refugee’s sample, ratings of arousal, dominance, and valence for 60 IAPS pictures (positive, neutral, and negative) were collected from 42 individuals with probable PTSD, and 26 trauma-exposed individuals (M age = 28.49 years, SD = ± 7.78). (3) Results: ANOVAs revealed a main group effect (η2p = 0.379) on arousal, dominance, and valence dimensions, and pictures’ categories (η2p = 0.620). Participants with PTSD responded to unpleasant images with enhanced arousal and lower valence ratings compared with individuals without PTSD. Moreover, arousal ratings were negatively correlated with valence (r = - 0.709, p < 0.01). (4) Conclusions: Our findings supported evidence according to which PTSD origins a state of maladaptive hyperarousal and difficulties in regulating emotions. Positive stimuli are considered less pleasant providing evidence for a complementary involvement of NVS and PVS in PTSD development.

Source: Behavioral Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/bs14121195

Authors: Olimpia Pino, Maurizio Rossi, Matteo Charles Malvezzi

Institution: University of Parma

Language: English

Topic: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,501