Compelled attention: The effects of viewing trauma-related stimuli on concurrent task performance in posttraumatic stress disorder

Citation
Cm. Chemtob et al., Compelled attention: The effects of viewing trauma-related stimuli on concurrent task performance in posttraumatic stress disorder, J TRAUMA ST, 12(2), 1999, pp. 309-326
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS
ISSN journal
08949867 → ACNP
Volume
12
Issue
2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
309 - 326
Database
ISI
SICI code
0894-9867(199904)12:2<309:CATEOV>2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
We examined the ability of Vietnam veterans with PTSD to focus attention on a primary digit detection task while concurrently viewing neutral or Vietn am-related picture ann word distractors. Controlling for combat exposure, m ilitary service, and psychopathology veterans with PTSD took longer to dete ct the target when Vietnam-related pictures were distractors. There were no reaction rime differences when word stimuli were distractors. The latency effect was specific to trials with trauma-related pictures and did not spre ad to neutral trials interleaved within a mixed block of trauma and neutral pictures. Individuals with PTSD recalled proportionally more Vietnam-relat ed words than other groups, implying differential attention to Vietnam-rela ted words. Attending to trauma-related pictures interferes with performance of a concurrent task by individuals with PTSD.