Investigating the effect of proactive interference control training on intrusive memories
Intrusive re-experiencing is a hallmark symptom of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). According to prominent models of intrusive phenomena, intrusive memories may result from impairments in the efficiency of working memory capacity (WMC), more specifically proactive interference control. Yet, exp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2019-12-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2019.1611092 |
| _version_ | 1828065788559360000 |
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| author | Marcella L. Woud Alexandre Heeren Lorika Shkreli Thomas Meyer Leonie Egeri Jan C. Cwik Armin Zlomuzica Henrik Kessler Jürgen Margraf |
| author_facet | Marcella L. Woud Alexandre Heeren Lorika Shkreli Thomas Meyer Leonie Egeri Jan C. Cwik Armin Zlomuzica Henrik Kessler Jürgen Margraf |
| author_sort | Marcella L. Woud |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Intrusive re-experiencing is a hallmark symptom of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). According to prominent models of intrusive phenomena, intrusive memories may result from impairments in the efficiency of working memory capacity (WMC), more specifically proactive interference control. Yet, experimental research is scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate experimentally the role of proactive interference control in intrusive memories. We randomly assigned 57 healthy participants to either receive a high interference control training or a low interference control training. Participants were then exposed to highly distressing film clips. WMC was assessed before and after the training. Intrusion symptoms were assessed directly post-training and after one week using an Intrusion Provocation Task (IPT), a one-week intrusions diary, and the retrospective intrusion subscale of the Impact of Event Sale – Revised (IES-R). Results indicated that both groups reported improvements in WMC and fewer intrusions on the second IPT post-training, with no differences between groups. Similarly, no group differences on intrusions were found at one-week follow-up (i.e., intrusion diary and IES-R). To conclude, these data are not consistent with the hypothesis that WMC plays a role in intrusive re-experiencing. Implications for future research are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:19:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6f8a47f95b504793b13f7a29b9cd39ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2000-8066 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:19:52Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Psychotraumatology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6f8a47f95b504793b13f7a29b9cd39ad2023-01-12T15:31:30ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEuropean Journal of Psychotraumatology2000-80662019-12-0110110.1080/20008198.2019.16110921611092Investigating the effect of proactive interference control training on intrusive memoriesMarcella L. Woud0Alexandre Heeren1Lorika Shkreli2Thomas Meyer3Leonie Egeri4Jan C. Cwik5Armin Zlomuzica6Henrik Kessler7Jürgen Margraf8Ruhr-Universität BochumUniversité catholique de LouvainRuhr-Universität BochumUniversity College LondonRuhr-Universität BochumUniversity of CologneRuhr-Universität BochumRuhr University Bochum, LWL University HospitalRuhr-Universität BochumIntrusive re-experiencing is a hallmark symptom of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). According to prominent models of intrusive phenomena, intrusive memories may result from impairments in the efficiency of working memory capacity (WMC), more specifically proactive interference control. Yet, experimental research is scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate experimentally the role of proactive interference control in intrusive memories. We randomly assigned 57 healthy participants to either receive a high interference control training or a low interference control training. Participants were then exposed to highly distressing film clips. WMC was assessed before and after the training. Intrusion symptoms were assessed directly post-training and after one week using an Intrusion Provocation Task (IPT), a one-week intrusions diary, and the retrospective intrusion subscale of the Impact of Event Sale – Revised (IES-R). Results indicated that both groups reported improvements in WMC and fewer intrusions on the second IPT post-training, with no differences between groups. Similarly, no group differences on intrusions were found at one-week follow-up (i.e., intrusion diary and IES-R). To conclude, these data are not consistent with the hypothesis that WMC plays a role in intrusive re-experiencing. Implications for future research are discussed.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2019.1611092intrusionsworking memory capacityemotional disorderstraumainhibition controltrauma film paradigmoperation span taskreading span task |
| spellingShingle | Marcella L. Woud Alexandre Heeren Lorika Shkreli Thomas Meyer Leonie Egeri Jan C. Cwik Armin Zlomuzica Henrik Kessler Jürgen Margraf Investigating the effect of proactive interference control training on intrusive memories European Journal of Psychotraumatology intrusions working memory capacity emotional disorders trauma inhibition control trauma film paradigm operation span task reading span task |
| title | Investigating the effect of proactive interference control training on intrusive memories |
| title_full | Investigating the effect of proactive interference control training on intrusive memories |
| title_fullStr | Investigating the effect of proactive interference control training on intrusive memories |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating the effect of proactive interference control training on intrusive memories |
| title_short | Investigating the effect of proactive interference control training on intrusive memories |
| title_sort | investigating the effect of proactive interference control training on intrusive memories |
| topic | intrusions working memory capacity emotional disorders trauma inhibition control trauma film paradigm operation span task reading span task |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2019.1611092 |
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