The Effects of Rumination on Mood and Intrusive Memories After Exposure to Traumatic Material: An Experimental Study

Overview

Journal J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry

Publisher Elsevier

Specialties Pharmacology
Psychiatry
Social Sciences

Date 2009 Aug 12

PMID 19665693

Citations 29

Authors

Ulrike Zetsche

Thomas Ehring

Anke Ehlers

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Correlational studies have shown that trauma-related rumination predicts chronic post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to experimentally test the hypothesis that rumination is causally involved in the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms. A video depicting the aftermath of serious road traffic accidents was used as an analogue stressor. After having watched the video, N=101 healthy participants were randomly assigned to a guided thinking task designed to induce (a) rumination, (b) memory integration and (c) distraction. In line with the hypotheses, rumination led to less recovery from sad mood triggered by the video than the other two conditions. In addition, self-reported state levels of rumination during the guided thinking task predicted subsequent intrusive memories in the session. However, no significant main effect of the experimental manipulation on intrusive memories of the video was found. Results of exploratory analyses suggested possible sex differences in the way the processing manipulations were effective. Taken together, the results partially support the hypothesis that rumination is involved in the maintenance of negative mood and post-traumatic stress symptoms.

Citing Articles

Hitting the Rewind Button: Imagining Analogue Trauma Memories in Reverse Reduces Distressing Intrusions.

Rattel J, Danbock S, Miedl S, Liedlgruber M, Wilhelm F Cognit Ther Res. 2024; 48(5):932-943.

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A systematic review and meta-analysis of experimental methods for modulating intrusive memories following lab-analogue trauma exposure in non-clinical populations.

Varma M, Zeng S, Singh L, Holmes E, Huang J, Chiu M Nat Hum Behav. 2024; 8(10):1968-1987.

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Does an app designed to reduce repetitive negative thinking decrease depression and anxiety in young people? (RETHINK): a randomized controlled prevention trial.

Funk J, Kopf-Beck J, Watkins E, Ehring T Trials. 2023; 24(1):295.

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Worry and rumination enhance a positive emotional contrast based on the framework of the Contrast Avoidance Model.

Kim H, Newman M J Anxiety Disord. 2023; 94:102671.

PMID: 36681058 PMC: 10071830. DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102671.

Avoidance of negative emotional contrast from worry and rumination: An application of the Contrast Avoidance Model.

Kim H, Newman M J Behav Cogn Ther. 2022; 32(1):33-43.

PMID: 35693377 PMC: 9181176. DOI: 10.1016/j.jbct.2021.12.007.

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