Inhibitory deficits, ignoring irrelevant and attending to relevant stimuli leading to goal-directed behavior (Lavie et. al., 2004), are crucial in our understanding of information processing in PTSD and may serve as a fundamental mechanism of the disorder. If inhibitory deficits underscore the cognitive abnormalities in PTSD, then we would expect inhibition to improve with treatment, however no published studies have examined changes in inhibition. As such, the present study will examine changes in inhibition at pre- and post-treatment in individuals with chronic PTSD. Using a multi-method approach, two measures, attentional blink (Raymond, Shapiro, &Arnell, 1992), a cognitive task that examines the temporal sequence of inhibition, and pre-pulse inhibition of startle, a physiological measure that examines the strength of inhibition (Braff &Geyer, 1990), provide a more comprehensive picture of inhibitory processes. This study will compare pre and post-treatment inhibitory functioning in XX men and women with chronic PTSD who receive either 10 weeks of prolonged exposure, a cognitive behavioral therapy, or sertraline, a serotonergic medication. The goals are twofold: 1) compare changes of inhibitory functioning following a psychosocial intervention versus pharmacotherapy;and 2) compare changes in inhibitory functioning in treatment responders versus non-responders.

Public Health Relevance

To the extent that improved inhibitory functioning is a crucial mechanism underlying PTSD recovery, inhibition should change with successful treatment.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
Project #
5F31MH084605-02
Application #
7947588
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-K (29))
Program Officer
Rubio, Mercedes
Project Start
2009-03-17
Project End
2011-03-16
Budget Start
2010-03-17
Budget End
2011-03-16
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$41,380
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
Echiverri-Cohen, Aileen M; Zoellner, Lori A; Ho, William et al. (2016) An analysis of inhibitory functioning in individuals with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder. J Anxiety Disord 37:94-103
Echiverri-Cohen, Aileen; Zoellner, Lori A; Gallop, Robert et al. (2016) Changes in temporal attention inhibition following prolonged exposure and sertraline in the treatment of PTSD. J Consult Clin Psychol 84:415-26
Bedard-Gilligan, Michele; Jaeger, Jeff; Echiverri-Cohen, Aileen et al. (2012) Individual differences in trauma disclosure. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry 43:716-23