Dampening of positive affect is associated with posttraumatic stress following stressful life events

Boelen, Paul A.

doi:10.1080/20008198.2020.1851077

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 54 publications

(64 reference statements)

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“…These individuals may avoid or fear intense positive emotions due to beliefs that strong emotions will cause loss of self-control or that positive emotions are harmful (Frewen et al, 2010; Salters-Pedneault et al, 2007). In turn, such low positive affect levels may relate to more PTSD symptoms (Boelen, 2021).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive affect processes and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: Findings from an open label and uncontrolled pilot study using the positive memory processing technique.

Contractor¹,

Slavish²,

Thornton³

et al. 2023

Journal of Psychotherapy Integration

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Recently, a five-session processing of positive memories technique (PPMT) was proposed as a novel intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One purported outcome of and mechanism underlying PPMT’s effects on PTSD is improved positive affect processes. In this uncontrolled pilot study, we examined whether PPMT was associated with decreases in PTSD severity; and whether changes in positive affect levels, reactivity, and dysregulation related to changes in PTSD severity across sessions. The sample included 16 trauma-exposed participants seeking services at a University Psychology Clinic (Mage = 27.44 years; 68.80% women). Multilevel linear growth models examined the main effects of each positive affect variable and their interactions with time on PTSD severity. PTSD severity decreased across PPMT treatment in each model (bs = −.43 to −.33; d = −.03; ps < .001–.008). There was a main effect of positive emotion dysregulation (b = 1.16, d = .11; p = .009), but not of positive affect levels (p = .821) or reactivity (p = .356) on PTSD severity. However, positive affect processes did not modify the trajectory of PTSD severity across treatment. Regarding PTSD symptom clusters, there was an interaction between positive affect levels and time on alterations in arousal and reactivity (AAR) cluster severity (b = −.01, p = .036); individuals with positive affect levels 1 SD above the mean (b = −.18, p < .01) and at the mean (b = −.10, p = .01) had greater decreases in AAR cluster severity across treatment compared with individuals with positive affect levels 1 SD below the mean (b = −.02, p = .710). Findings suggest that PPMT may relate to improved PTSD symptoms; and that positive affect levels/dysregulation may be worthwhile targets for future investigations.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive affect processes and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: Findings from an open label and uncontrolled pilot study using the positive memory processing technique.

Contractor¹,

Slavish²,

Thornton³

et al. 2023

Journal of Psychotherapy Integration

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“…Consumption of unhealthy food may be driven by efforts to suppress emotion. Mechanisms Boelen ( 2021 ) Dampening of positive affect is associated with posttraumatic stress following stressful life events Dysregulation of positive affect (PA) has been rarely examined. Dampening of PA was associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms variance beyond neuroticism and regulation of negative affect.…”

Section: In This Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

“…This was the focus of two papers in this series. Boelen ( 2021 ) examined the role of positive affect in ‘Dampening of positive affect is associated with posttraumatic stress following stressful life events.’ Standard evidence-based treatments for PTSD work to reduce negative affect by targeting negative thoughts, feelings, and memories with less attention given to the diminished positive affect that accompanies PTSD. This paper suggests dysregulation of positive affect as a potential mechanism that maintains symptoms and concludes that increasing positive affect may be useful in the treatment of PTSD.…”

Section: In This Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Complementary and integrative interventions for PTSD

Niles,

Lang,

Olff

2023

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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To treat the impact of trauma, most current evidence supports the use of trauma-focused psychotherapy as the first line approach. However, millions of individuals exposed to trauma worldwide seek Complementary and Integrative Health (CIH) therapies in hopes of achieving wellness above and beyond reducing symptoms. But what is the evidence for CIH interventions? What are potential pitfalls? Given the growing popularity of and strong interest in CIH, EJPT is featuring research on these approaches in this special issue. The papers range from common interventions such as mindfulness to the use of service dogs and scuba diving to alleviate trauma related symptoms. A featured editorial highlights the importance of defining when, where, and how placebo responses work. Nonspecific elements of treatment such as positive expectations, therapeutic rituals, healing symbols, and social interactions are identified as factors influencing treatment response and scientists looking to add to the CIH evidence base are encouraged to consider the impact and methodological challenges these elements present. CIH interventions more specifically recognize and harness some of these factors in addition to intervention-specific factors such as attention or emotion regulation along with focus on overall wellbeing. The body of work in this special issue supports the emerging evidence for meditative and relaxation-based interventions and illustrates a creative but nascent state of the field. Cross-intervention mechanisms that may play a role in achieving wellness, such as arousal reduction, emotion regulation, posttraumatic growth, and positive affect are highlighted. The trauma field would benefit from accumulation of evidence for promising CIH interventions, evaluation of potential mechanisms, and examination of health and wellbeing outcomes. With the paucity of high-quality trials, it would be premature to recommend CIH interventions as first-line treatments. However, the emerging literature on CIH continues to advance our understanding of what works and how these interventions exert their effects.

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Positive Affect Dampening Prospectively Predicts Changes in Chronic Life Stress, but Not Episodic Stress Generation Among Adolescents

Chen,

Santee,

Chang

et al. 2023

J Psychopathol Behav Assess

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Dampening of positive affect is associated with posttraumatic stress following stressful life events

Cited by 9 publications

References 54 publications

Positive affect processes and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: Findings from an open label and uncontrolled pilot study using the positive memory processing technique.

Positive affect processes and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: Findings from an open label and uncontrolled pilot study using the positive memory processing technique.

Complementary and integrative interventions for PTSD

Positive Affect Dampening Prospectively Predicts Changes in Chronic Life Stress, but Not Episodic Stress Generation Among Adolescents

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