The role of evaluative learning in the development and persistence of posttraumatic stress disorder

Completed

• Conditions: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD); traumatic stress; 10002861

• Registration Number: NL-OMON34729
• Lead Sponsor: niversiteit Utrecht

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Last Update Posted: 6 May 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: Not specified
• Target Recruitment: 180

Inclusion Criteria

Study 1 (Danger and disgust-associations after burglary): 100 healthy participants; a) adult (* 18 years); b) Dutch fluency; c) exposed to burglary in own home without confrontation; and d) burglary occurred not more than one month earlier.
Study 2 (Danger and disgust-associations after assault): 80 participants; a) adult (* 18 years); b) Dutch fluency; c) having experienced sexual or physical assault by a male perpetrator at least 3 months earlier and after the age of 14 (this age is typically used to distinguish childhood and adulthood in studies of abuse; see e.g., Linton et al., 1996), of whom 40 participant with d) PTSD diagnosis for PTSD group (N<=40).

Exclusion Criteria

For study 1 (Danger and disgust-associations after burglary), there are no exclusion criteria.
Exclusion criteria for study 2 (Danger and disgust-associations after assault) are: a) assault in childhood (< 14 years), b) PTSD diagnosis for the non-PTSD group; c) comorbid psychosis/schizophrenia, organic disorder, or substance abuse (as assessed with the SCID, see outcome measures), d) ongoing trauma (e.g., abusive relationship); and e) suicidal ideation.

Study & Design

• Study Type: Observational non invasive
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>The main outcome is PTSD symptom severity assessed with a questionnaire.</p><br>

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
<p>Secondary outcome variables in both study 1 and 2 are anxiety and depression<br /><br>symptoms assessed with questionnaires, and past and present DSM IV psychiatric<br /><br>disorders assessed with semi-structured interviews. Study 2 also uses rinsing<br /><br>behaviour after trauma-related imagery and physical intimacy as a secondary<br /><br>outcome variable. In both studies, independent variables include fear-related<br /><br>vulnerabilities (neuroticism, anxiety sensitivity), disgust-related trait<br /><br>vulnerabilities (disgust propensity and sensitivity, contamination<br /><br>sensitivity), disgust/fear-related associations, and affective priming.</p><br>