Psychiatry research
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Psychiatry research · Sep 2011
Cognitive-behavioral coping strategies associated with combat-related PTSD in treatment-seeking OEF-OIF Veterans.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with intrusive trauma-related thoughts and avoidance behaviors that contribute to its severity and chronicity. This study examined thought control and avoidance coping strategies associated with both a probable diagnosis and symptom severity of combat-related PTSD in a sample of 167 treatment-seeking Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF-OIF) Veterans. Within one year of returning from deployment, Veterans completed a survey containing measures of combat exposure, coping strategies, psychopathology, and postdeployment social support. ⋯ A structural equation model revealed that scores on a measure of postdeployment social support were negatively associated with scores on measures of maladaptive cognitive coping (i.e., worry, self-punishment) and avoidance coping (social and non-social avoidance coping) strategies, which were positively associated with combat-related PTSD symptoms. These results suggest that maladaptive thought control and avoidance coping may partially mediate the relation between postdeployment social support and combat-related PTSD symptoms in treatment-seeking OEF-OIF Veterans. Consistent with cognitive therapy models, these findings suggest that interventions that target maladaptive coping strategies such as worry, self-punishment, and social avoidance, and that bolster social support, most notably understanding from others, may help reduce combat-related PTSD symptoms in this population.
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Patients with schizophrenia tend to neglect their own pain and are known to have impairments in the processing of facial expressions. However, the sensitivity to dynamic expressions of pain has not been studied in these patients. Our goal was to test this ability in schizophrenia and to probe the underlying cognitive processes. ⋯ The sensitivity to expressions of pain was found to be impaired in schizophrenia and a bias to attribute lower pain intensities may be present at some discrimination levels. STEP performance was correlated with working memory but not with Affect Naming or attention. These findings may contribute to the improvement of cognitive remediation strategies.