DECLARATIVE MEMORY FUNCTIONING AS A PREDICTIVE FACTOR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PTSD
Mentor 1
Christine Larson
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
5-4-2019 1:30 PM
End Date
5-4-2019 3:30 PM
Description
Damiano, S.K.a, Larson, C.L.b
a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, 53211, U.S.
b University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, 53211, U.S.
Abstract
Although memory disturbances such as traumatic amnesia and intrusive memories are part of the diagnostic criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), deficits in verbal declarative memory functioning have frequently been observed among PTSD patients. Previous investigations have pointed toward a negative relationship between the presence of PTSD symptomatology and verbal declarative memory performance, with speculation that pre-trauma declarative memory deficits may serve as a risk factor for PTSD development. Inconsistencies in the literature have been common however, potentially due to the contribution of comorbidities such as depression and substance abuse. This study sought to clarify this connection between verbal declarative memory functioning and PTSD symptomatology by observing the relationship longitudinally. Participants were recruited from a Level 1 Trauma Center and assessed for verbal declarative memory performance and PTSD symptom severity two weeks following exposure to a traumatic event, as well as six months later. We hypothesized that poor verbal declarative performance would be associated with greater PTSD symptom severity, and that this relationship would remain after controlling for the presence of depression and substance abuse. Additionally, we hypothesized that poor verbal declarative memory performance at baseline wiould predict higher symptom severity at six months, and that this relationship would be similarly constant after controlling for depression and substance abuse. We found that there was no correlation between declarative memory performance and overall symptom severity at either time point, nor did performance on the declarative memory measure at baseline predict symptom severity at six months. Interestingly, we did find a significant correlation between poor verbal declarative memory performance and the presence of re-experiencing symptoms at both assessments. These results indicate that there may be other contributory factors to the observed connection between declarative memory dysfunction and PTSD symptomatology, and that further investigation into the specifics of the relationship is warranted.
Keywords: declarative memory, trauma, PTSD
DECLARATIVE MEMORY FUNCTIONING AS A PREDICTIVE FACTOR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PTSD
Union Wisconsin Room
Damiano, S.K.a, Larson, C.L.b
a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, 53211, U.S.
b University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, 53211, U.S.
Abstract
Although memory disturbances such as traumatic amnesia and intrusive memories are part of the diagnostic criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), deficits in verbal declarative memory functioning have frequently been observed among PTSD patients. Previous investigations have pointed toward a negative relationship between the presence of PTSD symptomatology and verbal declarative memory performance, with speculation that pre-trauma declarative memory deficits may serve as a risk factor for PTSD development. Inconsistencies in the literature have been common however, potentially due to the contribution of comorbidities such as depression and substance abuse. This study sought to clarify this connection between verbal declarative memory functioning and PTSD symptomatology by observing the relationship longitudinally. Participants were recruited from a Level 1 Trauma Center and assessed for verbal declarative memory performance and PTSD symptom severity two weeks following exposure to a traumatic event, as well as six months later. We hypothesized that poor verbal declarative performance would be associated with greater PTSD symptom severity, and that this relationship would remain after controlling for the presence of depression and substance abuse. Additionally, we hypothesized that poor verbal declarative memory performance at baseline wiould predict higher symptom severity at six months, and that this relationship would be similarly constant after controlling for depression and substance abuse. We found that there was no correlation between declarative memory performance and overall symptom severity at either time point, nor did performance on the declarative memory measure at baseline predict symptom severity at six months. Interestingly, we did find a significant correlation between poor verbal declarative memory performance and the presence of re-experiencing symptoms at both assessments. These results indicate that there may be other contributory factors to the observed connection between declarative memory dysfunction and PTSD symptomatology, and that further investigation into the specifics of the relationship is warranted.
Keywords: declarative memory, trauma, PTSD
