Information processing in anxiety disorders: Application to the understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder

Author: Litz, Brett T.; Keane, Terence M.

Description: Several of the key defining features of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are symptoms that reflect problems related to perception, attention, and memory processes (hypervigilance, flashbacks, nightmares, psychogenic amnesia, and concentration difficulties). Although there have been several recent attempts to explain such phenomena through facets of cognitive psychology, little empirical work has been completed to confirm or explicate such processes in PTSD. This paper critically reviews the theoretical and empirical work done to date in the area of information processing in anxiety disorders, so as to provide a context for future empirical work to identify the specific psychological mechanisms and controlling variables responsible for symptoms of PTSD. A working theoretical model of information processing variables in PTSD is also proposed to stimulate future research in this area.

Subject headings: PTSD; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Information processing; Anxiety disorders; Perception; Attention; Memory

Publication year: 1989

Journal or book title: Clinical Psychology Review

Volume: 9

Issue: 2

Pages: 243-257

Find the full text: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0272735889900305

Find more like this one (cited by): https://scholar.google.com/scholar?cites=2507696347374073517&as_sdt=5,26&sciodt=0,26&hl=en

Serial number: 3385

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