Relation between PTSD symptom clusters and positive memory characteristics: A network perspective

Abstract

Positive memory characteristics relate to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity. We utilized a network approach to examine relations between PTSD clusters (intrusions, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood [NACM], alterations in arousal and reactivity [AAR]) and positive memory characteristics (count, valence, vividness, coherence, time perspective, sensory details). We identified differential relations between PTSD clusters and positive memory characteristics, and central/bridging symptoms. Participants were an Amazon Mechanical Turkrecruited sample of 206 participants (M age = 35.36; 61.20% females). We estimated a regularized Gaussian Graphic Model comprising four nodes representing the PTSD clusters and six nodes representing positive memory characteristics. Regarding cross-community relations, AAR (highest node strength) was negatively associated with positive memory count, valence, coherence, and access; avoidance was positively and negatively associated with positive memory vividness and count respectively. The NACM-AAR and intrusion-avoidance edges were significantly stronger than most edges. From the PTSD community, AAR and avoidance had the highest bridge strength and bridge expected influence respectively; from the positive memory community, coherence and vividness had the highest bridge strength and bridge expected influence respectively. Results indicate the potential pivotal role of AAR, avoidance, coherence, and vividness in the PTSDpositive memory relation, which renders them assessment/treatment targets pending further investigation.

Positive Internal Experiences in PTSD Interventions: A Critical Review

“…Research over the past two decades has demonstrated a growing interest in the role of positive internal experiences in psychology (Fredrickson, 2001; Gruber & Moskowitz, 2014). The relevance of these experiences to PTSD has been documented wherein individuals with PTSD symptoms have been found to exhibit deficits in positive memory processes (Contractor, Banducci, et al, 2019; Contractor, Greene, et al, 2020); difficulties experiencing, expressing, and/or regulating intense positive emotions (Weiss et al, 2018; Weiss, Nelson, et al, 2019); and reduced positive cognitions (Berntsen & Rubin, 2006; Janoff-Bulman, 1992). However, despite empirical evidence linking positive internal experiences to PTSD symptomatology, relatively little is known about the extent to which these experiences are addressed in PTSD interventions.…”

Examining the relationships between emotional disorder symptoms in a mixed sample of community adults and patients: A network analysis perspective

“…Similar to Funkhouser et al (2020), Dysphoria presents the highest centrality values for depression. Likewise, Traumatic Intrusions showed greater centrality than did Traumatic Avoidance for PTSD (Contractor et al, 2020;Gilbar, 2020), and Checking and Ordering showed greater centrality for OCD (Zhang et al, 2019). Although Dysphoria is the most central node of the network, the low PC values and location indicate that their edges are primarily related to Community 1.…”

“…McNally et al (2017) have also shown the lack of connection between the symptoms linked to depression and the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which appear solely connected through "sadness" but not through sleep problems. The results of previous work have also identified dysphoria and lassitude to be the most influential symptoms in the networks obtained for depression (e.g., Funkhouser et al, 2020), whilst traumatic intrusions are the most influential for PTSD (Contractor et al, 2020;Gilbar, 2020) and the checking and ordering symptoms for OCD networks (Zhang et al, 2019).…”

Moderating effects of sleep difficulties on relations between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and positive memory count

“…Broadly, experimental and neurobiological research supports memory encoding and retrieval deficits among individuals with PTSD symptoms (Brewin, 2014; Brewin et al, 2007; Hayes et al, 2011; Johnsen & Asbjornsen, 2008). Beyond traumatic memories, positive memory retrieval difficulties relate to PTSD's etiology, maintenance, and severity (Bryant et al, 2007; Contractor et al, 2018; Contractor, Greene, et al, 2020; Hauer et al, 2009). Perhaps, biased attention toward negatively valenced information (Fani et al, 2012), a tendency to focus on negative and traumatic memories (Sutherland & Bryant, 2005), and emotional numbing and dysregulation processes (Contractor, Weiss, et al, 2021; Litz et al, 2000) may contribute to difficulties retrieving specific positive memories among trauma‐exposed individuals with PTSD symptoms (Sutherland & Bryant, 2005; Wingenfeld et al, 2013).…”

“…Specifically, we expected stronger and significant negative associations between PTSD symptom severity and specific positive memory count at higher (vs. lower) levels of sleep difficulties (i.e., among individuals reporting shorter sleep duration and poorer sleep quality). As exploratory analyses, we examined study research questions for each PTSD symptom cluster such as intrusions, avoidance, NACM, AAR drawing from the limited research indicating differential relations of PTSD symptom clusters with positive memory retrieval (Contractor et al, 2019; Contractor, Greene, et al, 2020). Evidence suggests significant relations of age, gender, and depression with PTSD (Norris et al, 2002; Rytwinski et al, 2013; Tolin & Breslau, 2007), sleep difficulties (Grandner et al, 2012; Krishnan & Collop, 2006; Tsuno et al, 2005), and positive memory retrieval (Bryant et al, 2007; Dijkstra & Kaup, 2005; Seidlitz & Diener, 1998).…”