Herzog Philipp, Willems Hannah, Wirkner Janine, Kube Tobias, Nazarenus Edgar, Glombiewski Julia A, Brakemeier Eva-Lotta, McNally Richard J, Richter Jan
Department of Psychology, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), Ostbahnstraße 10, 76829, Landau, Germany; Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 33 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Greifswald, Franz-Mehring-Straße 47, 17489, Greifswald, Germany.
Department of Psychology, University of Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), Ostbahnstraße 10, 76829, Landau, Germany.
Behav Res Ther. 2025 Mar;186:104690. doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2025.104690. Epub 2025 Jan 22.
Intrusions are a hallmark symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While dysfunctional cognitions are known posttraumatic contributors, peritraumatic processes are less understood. Perceived threat, alongside emotional factors, is theorized as significant, but experimental studies are lacking. Using the trauma film paradigm (TFP), we investigated peritraumatic threat's impact on intrusion development. Healthy participants (N = 93) viewed different distressing film clips (low, medium, high threat). Differences among the experimental groups were examined in the frequency and distress of intrusive memories, as well as distress and expectations. As hypothesized, the frequency of intrusive memories increased with increasing threat load, as did the distress and expectations related to intrusions. Fear elicited by film clips did not mediate this effect. Perceived threat is a crucial peritraumatic factor in intrusive memory formation, suggesting that a trauma perceived as highly threatening increases intrusion likelihood. Understanding traumatic factors influencing posttraumatic symptoms helps in targeting preventive interventions.
侵入性症状是创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）的标志性症状。虽然功能失调的认知是创伤后的已知因素，但创伤期间的过程却鲜为人知。除情感因素外，感知到的威胁被认为具有重要意义，但缺乏实验研究。我们使用创伤电影范式（TFP），研究了创伤期间的威胁对侵入性症状发展的影响。健康参与者（N = 93）观看了不同的痛苦电影片段（低、中、高威胁）。我们考察了实验组在侵入性记忆的频率和痛苦程度，以及痛苦和期望方面的差异。正如假设的那样，侵入性记忆的频率随着威胁负荷的增加而增加，与侵入相关的痛苦和期望也是如此。电影片段引发的恐惧并未介导这种效应。感知到的威胁是侵入性记忆形成过程中一个关键的创伤期间因素，这表明被视为高度威胁的创伤会增加侵入的可能性。了解影响创伤后症状的创伤因素有助于针对性地进行预防干预。
