The association between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and executive functioning.

Introduction: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a condition characterised by several disturbances in an individual's executive functioning. We were interested in the link between executive functions and the presence of anxiety and depression in a clinical population with post-traumatic stress disorder.Methods: Our sample comprised 180 participants divided into three groups: 60 with PTSD, 60 trauma-exposed without PTSD, and 60 controls. All participants were assessed on the following dimensions: PTSD, dissociation, executive functions, anxiety, and depression.Results: Consistent with the literature, the results of our study suggest that individuals with PTSD have difficulties in executive functioning. These disturbances are related to levels of anxiety and depression.Conclusion: The severity of PTSD is positively correlated with executive function disturbances, but the observed disturbances, especially in working memory updating, can be explained mainly by the high level of depression, rather than by PTSD alone.

Emotion regulation and executive functioning in female victims of sexual assault suffering from PTSD.

The sexual abuse of women has major repercussions on several spheres of the victims' daily lives and can lead to the development of PTSD. We were interested in the existence of a specific profile of alterations in cognitive functioning in female victims of sexual violence with PTSD. A sample of 101 women was divided into three groups (44 sexually abused women with PTSD; 25 sexually abused women without PTSD; 32 non-sexually abused non-PTSD controls). Participants completed questionnaires about psycho-traumatic symptoms, emotion regulation and executive functions. The results show that the PTSD group uses more maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies. In addition, overall executive functions were poorer in the PTSD group. Moreover, sexual assault, exposed with or without PTSD, is associated with deficits in executive functions, particularly inhibition. We also found positive correlations between executive difficulties and the use of non-adaptive emotion regulation strategies. These results suggest that there may be individual differences in the alterations in cognitive functioning following sexual assault.

The Role of Anxiety and Depression in the Emotion Regulation Strategies of People Suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Researchers have explored the links between cognitive emotion regulation, impaired cognitive functioning, and anxiety-depression, including the link to anxiety and depression levels. However, very few studies have examined these dimensions in clinical populations with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A sample of 183 participants was divided into three groups: 59 trauma-exposed with PTSD, 61 trauma-exposed without PTSD, and 63 non-trauma-exposed non-PTSD (controls). All participants were assessed on the following dimensions: PTSD (PCL-5), cognitive emotion regulation (CERQ), anxiety and depression (HADS). Results indicate a specific profile of emotion regulation associated with PTSD. Compared to other groups, participants with PTSD showed more difficulty managing their emotions, with more rumination, self-blame, and catastrophizing. Moreover, these difficulties were also correlated with levels of anxiety and depression, that is, participants with PTSD who had higher anxiety and depression scores used more maladaptive strategies. The PTSD group used significantly more maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies than the other groups, with distinct profiles related to anxiety and depressive symptomatology.

Maladaptive cognitions and emotion regulation in posttraumatic stress disorder.

PURPOSE: The present study investigated the interactions between emotion regulation strategies and cognitive distortions in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We also examined differences in emotion regulation and cognitive distortions across the trauma spectrum. METHODS: The study was conducted in France between December 2019 and August 2020 and was approved by the university ethics committee. We recruited 180 participants aged over 18, with 3 groups of 60 each: (1) patients diagnosed with PTSD, (2) trauma-exposed without PTSD, (3) no history of trauma. Exclusion criteria were a history of neurological or mental disorders, psychoactive substance abuse, and a history of physical injury that could affect outcomes. All participants completed the Life Events Checklist­5 (LEC-5), Post-traumatic Check List­5 (PCL-5), Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), and Cognitive Distortions scale for Adults (EDC-A). Correlation analysis was performed to observe the relationship between PTSD severity and cognitive functioning. Correlations between cognitive distortions and maladaptive emotion regulation strategies were calculated for the PTSD group. A moderation analysis of the whole sample was conducted to examine the relationship between cognitive distortions, emotion regulation strategies, and PTSD. RESULTS: Participants with PTSD scored significantly higher on the PCL­5 and for dissociation than the other groups. PCL­5 scores were positively correlated with maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and acceptance. They were also correlated with positive and negative dichotomous reasoning and negative minimization. Analysis of the PTSD group revealed correlations between maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and negative cognitive distortions. The moderation analysis revealed the cognitive distortions explaining the relationship between emotion regulation strategies and trauma exposure overall, and how they exacerbate emotional problems in PTSD. CONCLUSION: The study provides indications for management of PTSD patients. Inclusion of an intermediate group of individuals exposed to trauma without PTSD revealed differences in the observed alterations. It would be interesting to extend the cross-sectional observation design to study traumatic events that may cause a specific type of disorder.

Psychological Impact of Exposure to the COVID-19 Sanitary Crisis on French Healthcare Workers: Risk Factors and Coping Strategies.

Background: COVID-19 sanitary crisis is associated with emotional difficulties such as depression, anxiety and reactional post-traumatic symptoms among healthcare workers. Indeed, healthcare workers were particularly exposed to COVID-19 sanitary crisis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of exposure to COVID-19 sanitary crisis on affective symptoms (anxiety, post-traumatic stress, burnout) among French healthcare workers and the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies (positive re-evaluation and set in perspective) and coping strategies (active coping, planning, instrumental support, emotional support, emotional expression, positive reappraisal, acceptance, denial, blame, humor, religion, distraction, substance use, behavioral disengagement). Method: This cross-sectional survey-based study collected demographic data and mental health measurements from 1,010 volunteers (838 women) who consented online to participate, from March 24 to June 28, 2020, in France. Participants filled out online questionnaires and visual analogic scales that evaluate affective symptoms related to the COVID-19 sanitary crisis, namely symptoms of post-traumatic stress, burnout, emotion regulation abilities, and coping abilities. Results: The majority (57.8%) of the participants presented post-traumatic symptoms. Depending on the sub-dimensions evaluated, a proportion of participants reported moderate (25.9-31.2%) to severe (17.2-40.7%) burnout symptoms. We found a significant effect of the level of exposure to COVID-19 on affective symptoms. Being a woman, having a lower job position and having less experience were associated with higher level of affective symptoms. Moreover, coping strategies had a mediating effect on the relation between stress and burnout, supporting the coping reserve model. Conclusion: Post-traumatic and burnout symptoms were highly prevalent among French healthcare workers at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. Exposure to COVID-19 is a determining factor. We can thus promote both coping training and a good environment to limit the emotional consequences of exposure to COVID-19.