Showing papers on "Traumatic memories published in 2019"
TL;DR: Fear memory processes and their mechanisms are described and the pros and cons of applying how this knowledge can be applied in the development of interventions for PTSD are discussed.
Abstract: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric disorder associated with memories of traumatic experiences. Conditioned fear memory, a representative model of traumatic memories, is observed across species from lower to higher animals, including humans. Numerous studies have investigated the mechanisms of conditioned fear memory and have led to the identification of the underlying processes involved in fear memory regulation, including cellular and systems consolidation of fear conditioning, destabilization/reconsolidation and extinction after fear memory retrieval, and forgetting of fear memory. These studies suggested that mechanisms for fear memory regulation are shared by humans and other higher animals. Additionally, rodent studies have identified the mechanisms of fear memory at the molecular, cellular, and circuit levels. Findings from these studies in rodents have been applied to facilitate the development and improvement of PTSD intervention. For instance, reconsolidation and extinction of fear memories have been applied for PTSD treatment to improve prolonged exposure (PE) therapy, an effective psychotherapy for PTSD. Combination of medications weakening retrieved traumatic memory (e.g., by facilitating both destabilization and extinction) with PE therapy may contribute to improvement of PTSD. Interestingly, a recent study in mice identified forgetting of fear memory as another potential therapeutic target for PTSD. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved in fear memory processes is likely to facilitate the development of better treatments for PTSD. This review describes fear memory processes and their mechanisms and discusses the pros and cons of applying how this knowledge can be applied in the development of interventions for PTSD.
97 citations
TL;DR: Dream experience can defuse emotional traumatic memories when the emotional regulation and the fear extinction mechanisms are compromised by traumatic and frightening events, and could represent a sort of simulation of reality, providing the possibility to create a new scenario with emotional mastery elements to cope with dysphoric items included in nightmares.
Abstract: Dream experience (DE) represents a fascinating condition linked to emotional processes and the human inner world. Although the overlap between REM sleep and dreaming has been overcome, several studies point out that emotional and perceptually vivid contents are more frequent when reported upon awakenings from this sleep stage. Actually, it is well-known that REM sleep plays a pivotal role in the processing of salient and emotional waking-life experiences, strongly contributing to the emotional memory consolidation. In this vein, we highlighted that, to some extent, neuroimaging studies showed that the processes that regulate dreaming and emotional salience in sleep mentation share similar neural substrates of those controlling emotions during wakefulness. Furthermore, the research on EEG correlates of the presence/absence of DE and the results on EEG pattern related to the incorporated memories converged to assign a crucial role of REM theta oscillations in emotional re-processing. In particular, the theta activity is involved in memory processes during REM sleep as well as during the waking state, in line with the continuity hypothesis. Also, the gamma activity seems to be related to emotional processes and dream recall as well as to lucid dreams. Interestingly, similar EEG correlates of DE have been found in clinical samples when nightmares or dreams occur. Research on clinical samples revealed that promoting the rehearsal of frightening contents aimed to change them is a promising method to treat nightmares, and that lucid dreams are associated with an attenuation of nightmares. In this view, DE can defuse emotional traumatic memories when the emotional regulation and the fear extinction mechanisms are compromised by traumatic and frightening events. Finally, dreams could represent a sort of simulation of reality, providing the possibility to create a new scenario with emotional mastery elements to cope with dysphoric items included in nightmares. In addition, it could be hypothesized that the insertion of bizarre items besides traumatic memories might be functional to "impoverish" the negative charge of the experiences.
73 citations
TL;DR: Results suggest that progressive fear attenuation mediated by repetitive exposure is accompanied by sustained neuronal activation and not reverted to a pre-conditioning brain state, and contribute to the identification of brain areas as targets for therapeutic approaches against traumatic memories.
Abstract: The experience of strong traumata leads to the formation of enduring fear memories that may degenerate into post-traumatic stress disorder. One of the most successful treatments for this condition consists of extinction training during which the repeated exposure to trauma-inducing stimuli in a safe environment results in an attenuation of the fearful component of trauma-related memories. While numerous studies have investigated the neural substrates of recent (e.g., 1-day-old) fear memory attenuation, much less is known about the neural networks mediating the attenuation of remote (e.g., 30-day-old) fear memories. Since extinction training becomes less effective when applied long after the original encoding of the traumatic memory, this represents an important gap in memory research. Here, we aimed to generate a comprehensive map of brain activation upon effective remote fear memory attenuation in the mouse. We developed an efficient extinction training paradigm for 1-month-old contextual fear memory attenuation and performed cFos immunohistochemistry and network connectivity analyses on a set of cortical, amygdalar, thalamic, and hippocampal regions. Remote fear memory attenuation induced cFos in the prelimbic cortex, the basolateral amygdala, the nucleus reuniens of the thalamus, and the ventral fields of the hippocampal CA1 and CA3. All these structures were equally recruited by remote fear memory recall, but not by the recall of a familiar neutral context. These results suggest that progressive fear attenuation mediated by repetitive exposure is accompanied by sustained neuronal activation and not reverted to a pre-conditioning brain state. These findings contribute to the identification of brain areas as targets for therapeutic approaches against traumatic memories.
70 citations
TL;DR: This article reviewed recent research that is relevant to three controversies concerning memory for trauma and found that memories of childhood sexual abuse are especially fragmented and disorganized in people with posttraumatic stress disorder.
Abstract: The purpose of this article is to review recent research that is relevant to three controversies concerning memory for trauma. First, we briefly review the debate about recovered memories of childhood sexual abuse, summarizing a third interpretation distinct from both the repression and false-memory accounts. Second, we address new findings related to claims that memories of trauma, especially in people with posttraumatic stress disorder, are especially fragmented and disorganized. Third, we discuss research designed to test whether eye movements in eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy are effective.
40 citations
TL;DR: Evidence is discussed on how and where in the brain genetic or pharmacological interventions targeting the eCB system would attenuate aversive/traumatic memories through extinction facilitation in laboratory animals and humans and the therapeutic potential of these drugs is evident.
Abstract: Aversive learning and memory are essential to cope with dangerous and stressful stimuli present in an ever-changing environment. When this process is dysfunctional, however, it is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The endocannabinoid (eCB) system has been implicated in synaptic plasticity associated with physiological and pathological aversive learning and memory. The objective of this study was to review and discuss evidence on how and where in the brain genetic or pharmacological interventions targeting the eCB system would attenuate aversive/traumatic memories through extinction facilitation in laboratory animals and humans. The effect size of the experimental intervention under investigation was also calculated. Currently available data indicate that direct or indirect activation of cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptor facilitates the extinction of aversive/traumatic memories. Activating CB1 receptors around the formation of aversive/traumatic memories or their reminders can potentiate their subsequent extinction. In most cases, the effect size has been large (Cohen’s d ≥ 1.0). The brain areas responsible for the abovementioned effects include the medial prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and/or hippocampus. The potential role of cannabinoid type-2 (CB2) receptors in extinction learning is now under investigation. Drugs augmenting the brain eCB activity can temper the impact of aversive/traumatic experiences by diverse mechanisms depending on the moment of their administration. Considering the pivotal role the extinction process plays in PTSD, the therapeutic potential of these drugs is evident. The sparse number of clinical trials testing these compounds in stress-related disorders is a gap in the literature that needs to be addressed.
36 citations
TL;DR: One dose of propofol following memory reactivation selectively impaired subsequent emotional episodic memory retrieval in a time-dependent manner, consistent with reconsolidation impairment.
Abstract: The adjustment of maladaptive thoughts and behaviors associated with emotional memories is central to treating psychiatric disorders. Recent research, predominantly with laboratory animals, indicates that memories can become temporarily sensitive to modification following reactivation, before undergoing reconsolidation. A method to selectively impair reconsolidation of specific emotional or traumatic memories in humans could translate to an effective treatment for conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder. We tested whether deep sedation could impair emotional memory reconsolidation in 50 human participants. Administering the intravenous anesthetic propofol following memory reactivation disrupted memory for the reactivated, but not for a non-reactivated, slideshow story. Propofol impaired memory for the reactivated story after 24 hours, but not immediately after propofol recovery. Critically, memory impairment occurred selectively for the emotionally negative phase of the reactivated story. One dose of propofol following memory reactivation selectively impaired subsequent emotional episodic memory retrieval in a time-dependent manner, consistent with reconsolidation impairment.
32 citations
TL;DR: Therapists considered trauma-focused art therapy feasible and applicable and patients reported beneficial effects, such as more relaxation, externalization of memories and emotions into artwork, less intrusive thoughts of traumatic experiences and more confidence in the future.
Abstract: Research showed that more than 30% of patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) do not benefit from evidence-based treatments: Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). These are patients with prolonged and multiple traumatization, with poor verbal memory, and patients with emotional over-modulation. Retelling traumatic experiences in detail is poorly tolerated by these patients and might be a reason for not starting or not completing the recommended treatments. Due to lack of evidence, no alternative treatments are recommended yet. Art therapy may offer an alternative and suitable treatment, because the nonverbal and experiential character of art therapy appears to be an appropriate approach to the often wordless and visual nature of traumatic memories. The objective of this pilot study was to test the acceptability, feasibility, and applicability of trauma-focused art therapy for adults with PTSD due to multiple and prolonged traumatization (patients with early childhood traumatization and refugees from different cultures). Another objective was to identify the preliminary effectiveness of art therapy. Results showed willingness to participate and adherence to treatment of patients. Therapists considered trauma-focused art therapy feasible and applicable and patients reported beneficial effects, such as more relaxation, externalization of memories and emotions into artwork, less intrusive thoughts of traumatic experiences and more confidence in the future. The preliminary findings on PTSD symptom severity showed a decrease of symptoms in some participants, and an increase of symptoms in other participants. Further research into the effectiveness of art therapy and PTSD is needed.
29 citations
TL;DR: Evidence is provided to support a fast (5 hours or fewer) robust intervention for PTSD characterized by intrusive symptoms including current-month flashbacks, nightmares, and accompanied by sympathetic arousal in response to trauma narratives.
Abstract: Design: A randomized waitlist-controlled design (n = 74) examined the efficacy of Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) among male veterans with current-month flashbacks and nightmares. Volun...
23 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the historical processes contributing towards the specific development of Turkey after the 1920s that in turn established the main contours of Turkey's conflict with the Partiya Karkeren Kurdistane (PKK).
Abstract: This article investigates the historical processes contributing towards the specific development of Turkey after the 1920s that in turn established the main contours of Turkey’s conflict with the Partiya Karkeren Kurdistane (PKK). It first argues that the traumatic conflict memories of the Turkish leadership (1918–35) influenced its individual-level patterns of actions. These memories were used by the leadership to consolidate its imagined national agency in Turkey. The leadership perceived the traditional-conservative groups as ontological insecurity sources, jeopardizing this agency. It second claims that Turkey’s military apparatus is designed to silence these ontological insecurity sources. Finally, it claims these developments informed the ways in which the PKK’s narratives of rebellion were constructed. Empirically, it problematizes the impact of the Ottoman Empire’s collapse on the Turkish elites. Then, through a discourse analysis of elites’ speeches and legal documents, it traces their anxieties to the Ottoman Empire’s traumatic end. This article contributes to the trauma literature on ontological security and the emotions literature in International Relations in two ways. It first explores the particular national context in which traumatic memories are shaped and in turn articulated through emotional performances. Secondly, it shows the interplay between sociopsychological processes of security and agency making.
20 citations
03 Apr 2019
TL;DR: Bromberg as discussed by the authors proposes a clinical theory based on a relational model that posits dissociation at its centre and suggests that early relational trauma severely damages the integrative functions of the mind.
Abstract: Philip Bromberg proposes a clinical theory based on a relational model that posits dissociation at its centre. Like Pierre Janet, Bromberg believes that early relational trauma severely damages the integrative functions of the mind. In accordance with studies on traumatic memories, Bromberg postulates that early relational trauma might create retroactive amnesia, in which somatic memories devoid of symbolic form are not representable in conscious-explicit form. Janet and Sandor Ferenczi have allowed contemporary psychoanalysis to reincorporate the dissociative elements in the functioning of any psychic structure and to stress the importance of working with these parts in therapy in a reciprocal process of regulation, as highlighted by Bromberg and further explicated by recent neuroscientific developments. Historically, the path of splitting, or rather dissociation or fragmentation, would have been the pathological reaction described by Janet as a response to the traumatic shock or by Ferenczi when he talks about fragmentation of the personality.
16 citations
TL;DR: This work explores an emerging layer of biology that may compliment and enrich the synapse-centric perspective of fear extinction, and proposes a neuroepigenetic view of the experience-dependent gene expression that involves an appreciation of dynamic changes in the state of the entire cell.
Abstract: An understanding of how memory is acquired and how it can be modified in fear-related anxiety disorders, with the enhancement of failing memories on one side and a reduction or elimination of traumatic memories on the other, is a key unmet challenge in the fields of neuroscience and neuropsychiatry. The latter process depends on an important form of learning called fear extinction, where a previously acquired fear-related memory is decoupled from its ability to control behaviour through repeated non-reinforced exposure to the original fear-inducing cue. Although simple in description, fear extinction relies on a complex pattern of brain region and cell-type specific processes, some of which are unique to this form of learning and, for better or worse, contribute to the inherent instability of fear extinction memory. Here, we explore an emerging layer of biology that may compliment and enrich the synapse-centric perspective of fear extinction. As opposed to the more classically defined role of protein synthesis in the formation of fear extinction memory, a neuroepigenetic view of the experience-dependent gene expression involves an appreciation of dynamic changes in the state of the entire cell: from a transient change in plasticity at the level of the synapse, to potentially more persistent long-term effects within the nucleus. A deeper understanding of neuroepigenetic mechanisms and how they influence the formation and maintenance of fear extinction memory has the potential to enable the development of more effective treatment approaches for fear-related neuropsychiatric conditions.
TL;DR: It is shown—by cellular compartment analysis of temporal activity using fluorescence in situ hybridization—that such reactivation also occurs in the basolateral amygdala and the infralimbic cortex, two brain areas known to be involved in fear memory attenuation.
Abstract: Whether the attenuation of traumatic memories is mediated through the suppression of the original memory trace of fear by a new memory trace of safety, or through an updating of the original fear trace towards safety has been a long-standing question at the interface of neuroscience and psychology. This matter is of particular importance for remote fear memories as they lie at the core of stress- and anxiety-related disorders. Recently, we have found that in the dentate gyrus, the effective attenuation of remote fear memories is accompanied by a reactivation of memory recall-induced neurons and that the continued activity of these neurons is critical for fear reduction. However, whether this also applies to other brain areas implicated in the storage of remote fear memories remains to be determined. Here, we show-by cellular compartment analysis of temporal activity using fluorescence in situ hybridization-that such reactivation also occurs in the basolateral amygdala and the infralimbic cortex, two brain areas known to be involved in fear memory attenuation. These results provide further experimental support for effective traumatic memory attenuation likely being mediated by an updating of the original fear trace towards safety.
22 Apr 2019
TL;DR: In this paper, the relationship between traumatic memories and coping skills to deal with them is analyzed from a psychopathological point of view, and the role of resiliency and posttraumatic growth in some patients to cope with traumatic memories is examined.
Abstract: In this paper the relationship between traumatic memories and coping skills to deal with them is analyzed. Traumatic memories are difficult to be integrated into the survivor’s life story and can significantly interfere with social, educational and occupational functioning. From a psychopathological point of view, a distinction between normal and traumatic memories is made. Adaptive coping skills to deal with traumatic memories, such as cognitive avoidance, therapeutic exposure to traumatic memories or forgiveness, are analyzed. But there is also maladaptive coping, such as nostalgia, hate and revenge feelings or self-destructive behaviors, which should be taken into account to explain the difficulties of recovery in some patients. Finally, the cognitive emotion regulation strategies and the role of resiliency and post-traumatic growth in some patients to cope with traumatic memories are examined. Implications of this study for future research in this field are commented upon.
TL;DR: Research examining stability of adult disorganization indicate unresolved loss is more readily resolved than unresolved abuse and mothers who are unresolved experience fear stemming from traumatic memories and display frightening behavior towards their infants.
Abstract: Fear plays a central role in attachment theory and disorganization in adulthood. Fear associated with traumatic memories interferes with resolution of trauma resulting in disorganized mental states, captured as unresolved/disorganized speech surrounding loss and/or abuse in the Adult Attachment Interview. Mothers who are unresolved experience fear stemming from traumatic memories and display frightening behavior towards their infants. Disorganization can predispose individuals to dissociative mental processes, including altered states (absorption), PTSD, and depersonalization. Social psychologists have conceptualized adult disorganization as fear of the romantic partner. Studies examining stability of adult disorganization indicate unresolved loss is more readily resolved than unresolved abuse. Understanding disorganization in adulthood, including experiences that support reparation and reorganization, is important for developing effective interventions.
01 Jan 2019
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the relationship between shame memories containing traumatic and centrality features, current experiences of shame, psychotic-type experiences and their associated distress, and self-compassion.
Abstract: Background: Individuals with psychotic-type experiences (unusual experiences, beliefs and paranoia) have been found to have high levels of shame. Early shame memories, which can act as traumatic memories and become central to one’s identity, have been associated with shame in adulthood. Whilst shame has been examined in relation to paranoia, the relationship between shame and unusual experiences and beliefs warrants further attention. Furthermore, shame memories have not yet been investigated in individuals with unusual beliefs and experiences. Self-compassion has been found to reduce shame, psychotic-type experiences and their associated distress, but is yet to be investigated within this population.
Aims: To explore the relationships between shame memories containing traumatic and centrality features, current experiences of shame, psychotic-type experiences and their associated distress, and self-compassion.
Method: A cross-sectional design was employed and a mixed clinical/non clinical sample of adults from the UK was recruited (N = 35) through convenience and purposive sampling. Participants completed a series of established self-report measures via an online survey platform.
Results: Multiple regression analyses showed that shame memories containing traumatic features were a significant predictor of external shame and the distress
associated with all three psychotic-type experiences. Internal shame was found to moderate this relationship.
Conclusion: Several tentative clinical implications can be drawn from the findings including the importance of attending to the properties of shame memories in the experience of distressing psychotic-type experiences. This may be particularly relevant for individuals who also experience external shame. Internal shame should also be considered as a focus for therapeutic interventions when working with distressing psychotic-type experiences.
27 Jun 2019
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors used hypnosis to access the traumatic memory and the emotional part of the personality and to foster such integration; they agreed on the importance of the quality of the therapeutic relationship in this regard, but they differed in opinion and practice as to the need to assists patients in their expression of traumatic emotions during this process.
Abstract: Some World War I clinicians related the symptoms of traumatized servicemen to an underlying dissociation of their personality, consisting of two prototypical conditions: one involving functioning in daily life (inspired by Myers, whose work is also discussed in this article, and which will be labeled apparently normal part of the personality [ANP]) and one involving fixation in the traumatic experience and related attempts at defense (emotional part of the personality [EP]). These authors described two dissociative patterns. As illustrated in this article, one pattern consisted in the presentation of a dominant ANP suffering from constant or frequent intrusions from EP. The other pattern consisted in repeated complete alternations between ANP and EP. Instead of the use of purely symptom-oriented approaches, for the dissociative symptoms to be really resolved, an integration of traumatic memory in the personality, that is, between EP and ANP had to take place. These clinicians used hypnosis to access the traumatic memory and EP and to foster such integration; they agreed on the importance of the quality of the therapeutic relationship in this regard. However, they differed in opinion and practice as to the need to assists patients in their expression of traumatic emotions during this process. When the trauma was related merely to war experiences, such therapeutic processes took place within a simple phase-oriented treatment model, while in the presence of a history of previous trauma and related dissociation of the personality, this model had more complex applications. This is similar to modern treatment approaches of the sequelae – such as a complex dissociative disorder – of chronic (childhood) traumatization.
TL;DR: The Predictive Processing model of EMDR postulates that EMDR facilitates the predictive processing of traumatic memory by overcoming the bias against exploration and evidence accumulation, following successful treatment with EMDR.
Abstract: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) is an effective treatment for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Adaptive Information Processing Model (AIP) guides the development and practice of EMDR. The AIP postulates inadequately processed memory as the foundation of PTSD pathology. Predictive Processing postulates that the primary function of the brain is prediction that serves to anticipate the next moment of experience in order to resist the dissipative force of entropy thus facilitating continued survival. Memory is the primary substrate of prediction, and is optimized by an ongoing process of precision weighted prediction error minimization that refines prediction by updating the memories on which it is based. The Predictive Processing model of EMDR postulates that EMDR facilitates the predictive processing of traumatic memory by overcoming the bias against exploration and evidence accumulation. The EMDR protocol brings the traumatic memory into an active state of re-experiencing. Defensive responding and/or low sensory precision preclude evidence accumulation to test the predictions of the traumatic memory in the present. Sets of therapist guided eye movements repeatedly challenge the bias against evidence accumulation and compel sensory sampling of the benign present. Eye movements reset the theta rhythm organizing the flow of information through the brain, facilitating the deployment of both overt and covert attention, and the mnemonic search for associations. Sampling of sensation does not support the predictions of the traumatic memory resulting in prediction error that the brain then attempts to minimize. The net result is a restoration of the integrity of the rhythmic deployment of attention, a recalibration of sensory precision, and the updating (reconsolidation) of the traumatic memory. Thus one prediction of the model is a decrease in Attention Bias Variability, a core dysfunction in PTSD, following successful treatment with EMDR.
TL;DR: The findings highlight the processes through which collective memories of historical traumatic events are built over the long term and the way a collective identity develops to bear the burden of highly dramatic events and to transmit intergenerational lessons from the past.
Abstract: Objective Previous literature documented the traumatic consequences of exposure to disasters on psychological functioning, but little attention has been paid to the intergenerational transmission of the memory of disasters. We explored long-term effects on the memory of the Vajont dam disaster in Northeast Italy that claimed 1,910 lives in 1963. Method We collected data from 52 two-generation families in which the first generations were born before the disaster and the second generations after. The families were divided into an experimental group whose first generation survived the disaster and a control group whose first generation had moved there afterward. The interviews included an open-ended narrative on the memory of the disaster. We coded free narratives focusing on the richness of the memories (i.e., length, causes, core, aftermath), analyzing negative emotions and salience of the natural and psychological domains. Results We applied generalized linear mixed models. The richness of the memories, including references to negative emotions, diminished with lower exposure and with intergenerational transmission. Moreover, the participants built a shared representation of the disaster that did not markedly differ across exposure or generation. The reported causes were attributed more to the natural rather than the human domain; the consequences more to the psychological compared to the material domain. Conclusions Our findings highlight the processes through which collective memories of historical traumatic events are built over the long term and the way a collective identity develops to bear the burden of highly dramatic events and to transmit intergenerational lessons from the past. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
TL;DR: Results indicate that the TIS had valid and reliable psychometric properties in a PTSD sample, and most of the traumatic events received high negative psychological and material change scores, and event centrality mediated the relationship between transitional impact and PTSD severity.
Abstract: Background and Objectives: There is growing research indicating that event centrality strongly predicts posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, there is not much research on what makes a traumatic event central to one's life story. One reason a traumatic memory becomes a reference point for one's life story is that it brings about significant changes in one's life. This study investigated the relationships between transitional impact of an event, event centrality, and PTSD symptoms. Specifically, it tested whether higher negative changes were associated with higher levels of event centrality and PTSD symptoms. It also investigated whether event centrality mediated the relationship between transitional impact and PTSD severity.Methods: 101 individuals diagnosed with PTSD completed the Transitional Impact Scale (TIS), Centrality of Event Scale, and Impact of Event Scale-Revised regarding their traumatic experiences. Furthermore, they responded to the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale-Self Report (PSS-SR), Traumatic Events Checklist (TELC), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).Results and Conclusions: Results indicate that (a) the TIS had valid and reliable psychometric properties in a PTSD sample, (b) most of the traumatic events received high negative psychological and material change scores, and (c) event centrality mediated the relationship between transitional impact and PTSD severity.
TL;DR: The authors argue that for an audiovisual depiction of rape to shift popular discourses about rape, it would have to function rhetorically to widen the cultural understanding of rape trauma beyond the event, and demonstrate that rape trauma should be understood as part of the personal, unconscious, cultural, and visual mediation of traumatic memory.
Abstract: Trauma theorists foreground the unrepresentability of trauma; however, with modern innovations in visual representation, such as the photograph and cinema, depictions of trauma have begun to circulate across different mediums for a variety of audiences. These images tend to problematically present the traumatic event rather than the effects of trauma, such as traumatic memory. Specifically, some contemporary Hollywood popular films and television series that include rape as their subject matter often include a rape scene that can evoke affects such as disgust or empathy, and while these affects can last the duration of the film, they fail to shift popular discourses about rape because affect is more productive when it focuses on effects instead of events. As trauma studies has shifted to memory studies in the Humanities, and rape has become more prominent in popular culture through the circulation of personal testimony on social media and memoir, depictions of rape in cinema have slowly started to change from presentations of rape scenes to representations of rape trauma that highlight different affects, such as shame. Using Monster (2003), Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), Room (2015), and the television series, 13 Reasons Why (2017) and Sharp Objects (2018) as case studies, this paper argues that, for an audiovisual depiction of rape to shift popular discourses about rape, it would have to function rhetorically to widen the cultural understanding of rape trauma beyond the event, and demonstrate that rape trauma should be understood as part of the personal, unconscious, cultural, and visual mediation of traumatic memory.
TL;DR: Findings provide evidence that memories for trauma experiences are less coherent than neutral memories and suggest that writing helps to create a more coherent representation of a traumatic event, highlighting a potential mechanism for expressive writing's effects.
Abstract: Objective Memories of traumatic events are thought to be less coherent than memories for nontraumatic events, and expressive writing about traumatic events may help create more organized, coherent memories. Investigations of traumatic memories have been hampered by limitations in conceptualizing and measuring memory organization and coherence. The objective of this investigation was to compare the coherence of written narratives of trauma and neutral memories and examine changes in coherence of trauma narratives as a function of repeated expressive writing about the trauma using an atheoretical, computational method for assessing the coherence of text. Method Participants (N = 246) wrote 3 times about either their daily activities (neutral condition) or the most traumatic event of their lives. Latent semantic analysis, a method of calculating meaning from text based on semantic association between words, was used to assess narrative coherence as the average semantic association between contiguous sentences. Results Neutral narratives were more coherent than trauma narratives overall, but neutral narratives decreased whereas trauma narratives increased in coherence from the first to the final session. Conclusions These findings provide evidence that memories for trauma experiences are less coherent than neutral memories and suggest that writing helps to create a more coherent representation of a traumatic event, highlighting a potential mechanism for expressive writing's effects. Results demonstrate the utility of latent semantic analysis for examining coherence of memories of traumatic events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
TL;DR: In this article, the structural dissociation of the personality is described as a psychological phenomenon involved in the integration of traumatic memories, where memories are successfully integrated in a narrative, that is, stored in an adaptive memory network.
Abstract: The theory of the structural dissociation of the personality proposes a precise description of the psychological phenomena involved in the integration of traumatic memories. According to this theory, memories are successfully integrated in a narrative—that is, stored in an adaptive memory network—when there has been synthesis of the different elements (affects, cognitions, images, sensorimotor reactions, behaviors) for each moment of a particular event, and when realization has occurred. Realization implies personification and presentification. Personification is the ability individuals have to feel that they have experienced (traumatic) events. Presentification is the ability to realize that the event took place in the past and is over now. In this article we present these concepts and how they relate to eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) psychotherapy and its underlying hypothesis of adaptive information processing. The article describes how EMDR therapists can use these concepts to better understand the reprocessing of their clients and possible blocking of this reprocessing. Understanding the concepts of synthesis, personification, and presentification makes it possible for EMDR therapists to choose the specific supportive interventions and cognitive interweaves that will best support the adaptive information processing. Such psychological phenomena should attract more attention in the future in EMDR clinical research and practice.
27 Dec 2019
TL;DR: The Movement Assessment and Treatment Manual for Trauma (MAMT) as mentioned in this paper ) is a manual for the treatment of Traumatic Events based on the body's nonverbal expressions and emotional verbal narratives.
Abstract: Trauma is manifested through the body in different ways, from arousal to freezing, or cessation of movement. Verbal expressions of traumatic experience have long been studied; however, studies of nonverbal responses are scarce. The current paper presents the Movement Assessment and Treatment Manual for Trauma (MAMT). The suggested intervention is based on recent evidence indicating a relationship between the body’s non-verbal expressions and the emotional verbal narratives in people who have experienced a traumatic event. The study, conducted by experienced dance/movement therapists, explored bodily movements while people recount traumatic memories. Results revealed three main bodily movement categories that accompany the verbal narration of a traumatic event: illustrative, rhythmic and regulative movements. The intervention presented is based on the practical implications of the bodily movement categories found to be manifested when a traumatic event is recalled. The MAMT intervention model is illustrated by a case study.
TL;DR: In this article, a semi-Gothic exploration of traumatic pathology is presented, highlighting trauma's experiential possession of an individual or culture in its happening, and questioning along with this the opposing "traumatological, fantastic, and ideological bases for traumatic suffering".
Abstract: In Pat Barker’s 2003 novel Double Vision, the intertwining of traumatic and uncanny aesthetics works to affirm the role of the unconscious in traumatic memory, drawing attention to the uneasy connection between trauma, violence, and libidinal fantasy, and offering through this a generic challenge to overly mimetic traumatic representations. The ambivalent significance of traumatic memory as a source both of hermeneutic excess and psychological insight is foremost here, offering brief glimpses into the hidden fantasies of impacted characters. As such, the novel can be read as a semi-Gothic exploration of traumatic pathology, highlighting trauma’s experiential ‘possession’ of an individual or culture in its happening, and questioning along with this the opposing ‘traumatological’, fantastic, and ideological bases for traumatic suffering. The findings of this examination in turn infer a larger pronouncement on the ambivalent ethics of traumatic representation and the critical need for narrative and artistic self-examination.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the ethical, legal and social implications of MMTs for the treatment of war-induced PTSD, especially in a military population, focusing on safety and social justice concerns, concerns about threats to authenticity and identity, and the possible legal and moral duties to retain certain memories.
Abstract: Traumatic memories of war can result in mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is characterized by intrusive trauma memories and severe stress responses with devastating personal and societal consequences. Current treatments teach patients to regulate trauma memories, but many experience a return of symptoms even after initially successful treatment. Neuroscience is discovering ways to permanently modify trauma memories and prevent the return of symptoms. Such memory modification techniques (MMTs) have great clinical potential but also important ethical, legal and social implications. In this article, the authors describe PTSD, the role of memory in PTSD, its effects on the brain, and the limitations of current treatment methods. Then, the state of the art of the neuroscience of MMTs is presented. Within this realistic scientific framework the authors will discuss the ethical, legal and social implications of MMTs for the treatment of war-induced PTSD, especially in a military population. Three major sets of issues will be focused on: safety and social justice concerns, concerns about threats to authenticity and identity, and the possible legal and moral duties to retain certain memories. Finally, the article concludes that within scientific reality, concerns are limited and do not outweigh the potential benefits of developing treatments for patients.
TL;DR: Looking at an image in VR that represents a memory while carrying out a dual-task may be at least as effective as recalling the memory during the dual- task, and visually supporting a negative memory does not seem to prevent memory degrading by dual-tasking.
TL;DR: Overall, it is proposed that with so many people living with “recovered” memories, future research now needs to address whether they are indeed better off and which methods would help achieve that goal.
Abstract: The new national survey by Patihis and Pendergrast (this issue, p. 3) suggests that millions of people may have recovered traumatic memories that they spent large parts of their lives not thinking ...
TL;DR: Results revalidate the STO as a screening tool for PTSD and CPTSD and recommend a STO cut-off score of 13 and above when using the ICD-11 PTSD proposed algorithm along the PCL-5 cutoff score.
Abstract: The Subjective Traumatic Outlook (STO) deals with changes in individuals' perception, following a traumatic event and the difficulties of integrating pre-trauma past memories, inner traumatic memories, and current daily life. Although this short scale has excellent psychometric properties its cut-off scores for potential clinical use have yet to be established. In addition, due to the discrepancy between the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) in the meaurement of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the present study aimed at revalidating the STO and establishing cut-off scores for potential clinical use, based on both approaches to measure PTSD and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). Three hundred forty-three adults who were recruited through social media apps filled in self-report online questionnaires dealing with subjective perception of psychological trauma, PTSD and CPTSD. Results revalidate the STO as a screening tool for PTSD and CPTSD. We recommend a STO cut-off score of 13 and above when using the ICD-11 PTSD proposed algorithm along the PCL-5 cutoff score and a STO cut-off score of 15 when using the ICD-11 CPTSD proposed algorithm. In light of the present findings, the integration of DSM and ICD approaches is discussed.