Intrusive images in PTSD and in traumatised and non-traumatised depressed patients: A cross-sectional clinical study

Birrer, Eva; Michael, Tanja; Munsch, Simone

doi:10.1016/j.brat.2007.03.005

Cited by 103 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…They can vary from relatively mild (there is a transient sense of the event reoccurring in the present) to extreme (the person loses all connection with their current autobiographical self and present surroundings while reexperiencing the memory). An emerging literature documents that flashbacks are specific to PTSD rather than mere trauma exposure (Brewin, 2007), that they distinguish PTSD from depression (Reynolds & Brewin, 1998) and that, relative to intrusive memories in depression, intrusive memories in PTSD involve a greater sense of reliving in the present (Birrer et al, 2007). Flashbacks appear to be a particularly sensitive and specific indicator of PTSD (Duke, Allen, Rozee, & Bommaritto, 2008), and their characteristic features are predictive of the course of the disorder (Michael, Ehlers, Halligan, & Clark, 2005).…”

Section: Criticism 3: Symptom Overlap With Other Disordersmentioning

confidence: 95%

Reformulating PTSD forDSM‐V: Life after Criterion A

Brewin

Lanius

Novac

et al. 2009

Journal of Traumatic Stress

319

281

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The diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder has been criticized on numerous grounds, but principally for three reasons (a) the alleged pathologizing of normal events, (b) the inadequacy of Criterion A, and (c) symptom overlap with other disorders. The authors review these problems along with arguments why the diagnosis is nevertheless worth retaining in an amended form. A proposal for the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) is put forward that involves abolishing Criterion A, narrowing the B criteria to focus on the core phenomena of flashbacks and nightmares, and narrowing the C and D criteria to reduce overlap with other disorders. The potential advantages and disadvantages of this formulation are discussed.

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Section: Criticism 3: Symptom Overlap With Other Disordersmentioning

confidence: 95%

Reformulating PTSD forDSM‐V: Life after Criterion A

Brewin

Lanius

Novac

et al. 2009

Journal of Traumatic Stress

319

281

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“…There is growing evidence that intrusive mental images feature prominently in depression, anxiety disorders and other mental disorders (Birrer, Michael, & Munsch, 2007;Hackmann & Holmes, 2004). Intrusive mental images can be defi ned as fragments of specifi c autobiographical events or imaginal extensions of such events that predominantly possess sensory qualities and enter awareness suddenly and unintentionally (Hackmann & Holmes, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intrusive images in grief: an exploratory study

Boelen

Huntjens

2008

Clin Psychology and Psychoth

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The relevance of intrusive mental imagery to the understanding and treatment of psychological disorders is increasingly acknowledged. Little research has been done on intrusive imagery in grief. Using a sample of 131 mourners, recruited from professional and lay mental health care workers, the current study examined the frequency and correlates of four specific intrusive images: (a) positive intrusive memories of the lost person; (b) intrusive images of the death event; (c) re-enactment fantasies; and (d) negative images of the future. Findings revealed that these intrusions were common and that the occurrence of these intrusions hardly varied across subgroups of mourners. All four intrusions were correlated with the severity of complicated grief symptoms, and intrusions (b), (c) and (d) were also correlated with the severity of symptoms of depression and anxiety. Findings have potential theoretical and clinical implications and indicate that a more comprehensive study of intrusions among bereaved people is warranted.

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“…Speckens et al (2007) found that OCD obsessional images were experienced on average 10 times per week, whereas comparable studies of posttraumatic stress disorder suggested that visual intrusions most commonly occurred between once or more per day and once or more per week (Birrer, Michael, & Munsch, 2007). Obsessional images have also been shown to most commonly involve seeing scenes from a 'field' perspective, i.e.…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%