The effect of retrieval on recall of information in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder

Nader Amir, Christal L. Badour, Bettina Freese

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Cognitive theories of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suggest that associative memory processes may play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of the disorder. In the current study we examined the effect of associative pair rehearsal on recall ability for threatening and non-threatening information using the retrieval-practice paradigm in individuals with PTSD, traumatized controls (TC), and non-traumatized controls (NAC). Across word type, NACs demonstrated a typical retrieval-induced forgetting effect. However, individuals with PTSD benefited less from rehearsal, and failed to inhibit recall of unpracticed words in practiced categories. Participants in the TC group displayed a retrieval-induced forgetting effect similar to those individuals in the PTSD group. These findings are consistent with research indicating that individuals with PTSD may derive less benefit from rehearsal and display general inhibitory difficulties when compared to non-traumatized controls.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)535-540
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Anxiety Disorders
Volume23
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2009

Keywords

  • Cognition
  • Information processing
  • Memory
  • PTSD

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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