While research in the area of emotional numbing in PTSD is growing, there are considerable gaps in our current knowledge of its underlying processes. One of the current debates in this literature focuses on whether emotional numbing is automatically controlled and occurs outside of conscious processing or whether there are strategic aspects to the symptoms and there exists some conscious control over when numbing is used. Emotional and psychophysiological studies have shown that emotion regulation aspects of PTSD can be reliably examined while individuals are presented with positive and negative images. In a series of two studies, I will examine emotional and physiological responding associated with emotional numbing, the automatic or strategic nature of emotional numbing, and how emotional numbing is related to treatment response. In Study 1, I will seek to directly manipulate emotional numbing responses using four samples: PTSD, trauma-exposed no PTSD, panic disorder, and no psychopathology controls. During emotional manipulation instructions (emotional numbing, express emotion, no instruction), participants will be presented with affective images (positive, negative, neutral), and both emotional and psychophysiological responses will be measured. In Study 2, I will furthermore examine emotional numbing pre- and post- treatment, comparing treatment modality (prolonged exposure vs. sertraline) and treatment response. ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
1F31MH077483-01A2
Application #
7332659
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F12B-J (20))
Program Officer
Rubio, Mercedes
Project Start
2007-09-24
Project End
2010-09-23
Budget Start
2007-09-24
Budget End
2008-09-23
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$29,616
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Washington
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
605799469
City
Seattle
State
WA
Country
United States
Zip Code
98195
Bedard-Gilligan, Michele; Jaeger, Jeff; Echiverri-Cohen, Aileen et al. (2012) Individual differences in trauma disclosure. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 43:716-23
Jaeger, Jeff A; Echiverri, Aileen; Zoellner, Lori A et al. (2009) Factors Associated with Choice of Exposure Therapy for PTSD. Int J Behav Consult Ther 5:294-310