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Background/objective:
The current study aimed to examine the relationship between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms and executive dysfunction in children and adolescents after psychological trauma.
Method:
Participants were 13,438 of children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years exposed to the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. PTSD and dysexec...
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... Inhibitory control is one of the core human executive functions (EFs) which further include planning, working memory, behavioral inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and problem solving (Li et al., 2019;Nyvold et al., 2022). Common examples of employing inhibitory control are stopping automatic or unwanted thoughts and actions as well as blocking out distracting information in line with internal goals (Kelder et al., 2018). ...
PTSD symptomatology is known to be associated with executive dysfunction. Inhibitory control is a core component of executive functioning, and inhibitory skills are essential both for adequate functioning in everyday life and important in situations following trauma. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between trauma exposure, inhibitory control and PTSD symptomatology in adolescent survivors of the terror attack at Utøya, Norway on the 22nd of July, 2011. In this cross-sectional case-control study, 20 trauma exposed adolescents and 20 healthy controls matched in age and gender were compared on a neuropsychological test of cognitive inhibition (Color-Word Interference Test) and a self-report measure of inhibition ability (BRIEF-A). Our analyses revealed that the trauma exposed group differed significantly on the self-reported measure of inhibitory control compared to the control group, but there were no differences between groups on the objective measures of cognitive inhibition. Follow-up analyses with subgroups in the trauma exposed group based on PTSD symptomatology (PTSD + and PTSD-) and the control group revealed that the PTSD- group showed significantly better results than both the PTSD + and the control group on the measures of inhibitory control. Moreover, the follow-up analyses showed that the PTSD + group showed significantly poorer results from the other two groups on the measures of inhibitory control and self-reported inhibition. We conclude that impaired inhibitory control, measured both objectively and by self-reported questionnaire, is related to PTSD symptomatology. Findings suggest that inhibitory dysfunctions may be a vulnerability factor for the development of PTSD symptomatology in trauma exposed adolescents, and thus it seems that the ability to exhibit inhibitory control could be a possible resilience factor to prevent the development of PTSD symptoms.
... Latent profile analyses with only AMPD traits revealed three AMPD profiles with identical shapes of varying levels of psychopathology (i.e., high, moderate, and low). These findings reflect other latent profiles that found similar high and low personality psychopathology with similar shapes (e.g., Ahmed et al. 2021;Li et al. 2019;Tabak and Weisman de Mamani 2013). Like the p factor in psychopathology (Caspi et al. 2014;Caspi and Moffitt 2018), the p factor in personality disorders as an integrated personality trait may explain why all five pathological personality traits are highly comorbid (Asadi et al. 2021). ...
Although numerous studies have explored latent profiles using the Five-Factor Model (FFM) of normative personality, no studies have investigated how broad personality traits (i.e., FFM) and pathological personality traits using the alternative model of personality disorder (AMPD) may combine for latent personality profiles. The present study recruited outpatients (N = 201) who completed the Big Five Aspects Scales (BFAS), Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I/P), gambling and alcohol use measures, and the Weschler Intelligence subtests. When FFM and AMPD measures were combined, latent profile analyses revealed four profiles, Internalizing-Thought disorder, Externalizing, Average-Detached, and Adaptive. Detachment and openness to experience were the most and least essential traits for profile distinction, respectively. No associations between group membership and cognitive ability measures were found. Internalizing-Thought disorder membership was linked with a current mood and anxiety disorder diagnosis. Externalizing profile membership was associated with younger age, problematic gambling, alcohol use, and a current substance use disorder diagnosis. The four FFM–AMPD profiles overlapped with the four FFM-only and three AMPD-only profiles. Overall, the FFM–AMPD profiles appeared to have better convergent and discriminant validity with DSM-relevant psychopathology.
... Our results in terms of prevalence of PTSD are in line with a research that was conducted 2.5 years after the Wenchuan earthquake, in which classes were characterized by varying severity and pervasiveness of PTSD and dysexecutive symptoms and the smallest class was the extremely high symptom one (3.7%) [21]. Comparing those results to this research makes it further clear that after many years, the prevalence of PTSD was still fairly high and these people still suffer from this disorder. ...
Background
The purpose of this study was to identify latent classes of the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among the survivors of the earthquake in Bam, south-eastern Iran, 17 years after the disaster. The most influential predictor variables of PTSD classes were also investigated.
Methods
Eight hundred survivors of the Bam earthquake who were at least four years old in that disaster were selected by multistage sampling. The PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version was used. Latent class analysis was performed to identify subgroups of people with different PTSD symptom profiles. Latent class regression analysis was used to explore the influence of demographic and traumatic variables on each class membership.
Results
We found three latent classes of PTSD, with the following profiles emerging: Low Symptom (56.6% of the participants), Moderate Symptom (23.5%), and Severe Symptom (19.9%). Old age [OR = 2.20, 95% CI = (1.46, 3.32)], physical injury [OR = 1.95, 95% CI = (1.24, 3.06)], being trapped under the rubble [OR = 1.81, 95% CI = (1.15, 2.86)], and death of a family member [OR = 1.86, 95% CI = (1.12, 3.09)] were positive risk factors for PTSD and increased the chance of being in classes having more severe symptoms. Having a high educational level was a negative risk factor [OR = 0.86, 95% CI = (0.67, 1.11)].
Conclusions
The severity of PTSD 17 years after the earthquake shows that natural disasters such as earthquakes have long-term consequences, and earthquake survivors must have psychological support and long term health care.
After any catastrophic earthquake, governments should establish psychology and psychotherapy centers for earthquake victims, and these centers should support earthquake victims for a sufficiently long time.
... SAC with internalizing behavior problems obtained worse results on the scales, such as on scales evaluating EF. Executive dysfunctions are found in diseases such as major depression, PTSD, and anxiety disorder (Holler et al., 2014) (Han et al., 2016;Li et al., 2019). Whether there is a history of sexual abuse or not, depression and neurocognitive dysfunctions are common. ...
Sexually abused children (SAC) often experience acute and chronic adverse psychological and physiological effects later in life. This study aims to evaluate psychiatric diagnoses, Executive Functions (EF) and Theory of Mind (ToM) skills deficiencies in sexually abused female adolescents and examine the relation of these deficiencies with externalizing and internalizing behavioral problems. The patient group comprised 42 female adolescents aged 14–18 years (mean = 16.42, standard deviation = 1.01). The Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-Present and Lifetime Version, Dokuz Eylül ToM Index and Reading the Mind in the Eyes test were applied. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and Kiddo-KINDL were completed by the participants and their families. A total of 57.2% (n = 24) were classified as SAC with internalizing behavior problems (SAC+I), whereas 66.7% (n = 28) comprised the SAC with externalizing behavior problems (SAC+A) subgroup. SAC+I showed deficits in EF and TOM. Some EF skills were found to be statistically weaker in SAC+A. There was no difference between SAC+A and SAC–A in the TOM tests. The results highlight the need to explore whether these deficiencies are due to psychiatric diseases or whether those who have disabilities in this field carry a higher risk of psychiatric disorder.
... (e.g., financial loss) or psychological distress(anxiety, depression, psychological distress, stress), and children's anxiety symptomatology (internalizing behaviours, anxiety symptoms), and cognitive development (intellectual, language, and functional play)(Buthmann et al., 2019;Li et al., 2019;Nomura et al., 2019;Simcock et al., 2019;Strahm et al., 2020).Among the protective factors for children offered by communities in the aftermath of disaster are schools and other safe environments for children to play and learn(Le Brocque et al., 2017). Schools can provide a stable, supportive environment for children and a sense of safety and security(Mooney, Tarrant, Paton, Johnston, & Johal, 2020). ...
Disasters can impact upon individuals, families, and communities in multiple ways. Research has mainly focused on risk and protective factors relating to the child (individual level) and the family (interpersonal level), not taking into account the processes at the level of social groups. The present review aims to (a) review psychological research on disasters determined by natural events in childhood, (b) distinguish individual, interpersonal, group, and intergroup levels, (c) emphasize the importance of considering resilience as a key outcome. We reviewed 294 studies (in addition to 28 reviews‐meta‐analyses, and 29 naturalistic interventions), and identified factors at the individual (e.g., demographics, exposure, individual differences), interpersonal (e.g., parent–child relationship, family and school environment), group (e.g., social identity, group membership), and intergroup (relations between different groups) levels. We argue that an integrated model of these factors and their interplay is needed to design interventions to enhance resilience in children and their communities. We extend previous theorizations by providing a wider conceptualization of distress and resilience, and by considering the interplay between factors at different levels. A multidimensional approach to the consequences of disasters in children is crucial to understand their development and well‐being, and to design effective interventions. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.
... In a recent study, Barzilay et al. (2019) found that exposure to posttraumatic stress in young people from non-clinical populations is substantially associated with more severe psychopathology and neurocognitive deficits in all domains, beyond PTSD and depression. In the same vein, Li et al. (2019) confirmed the correlation between PTSD and executive dysfunction in children, even after considering possible individual differences. A meta-analysis concluded general deficits in EFs in trauma-exposed children and adolescents compared to healthy controls. ...
Over the past three decades, our understanding of the nature, assessment and treatment of childhood mental disorders has increased significantly. Some of the most recent advances come from transdiagnostic and neuropsychological-based approaches. While the relationship of similar neuropsychological deficits with some mental disorders, such as neurodevelopmental and severe mental disorders like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, is widely established, there is more controversy about their relationship with the so-called internalizing and externalizing disorders. In this article, our goal was to highlight the potential of incorporating cognitive strategies from integrative neuropsychological and transdiagnostic approaches to improve the effectiveness of empirically-supported cognitive-behavioral therapy for internalizing and externalizing mental disorders in childhood and adolescence. The results of the present work indicate that the vast majority of internalizing disorders, including the presence of anxiety, depressive, trauma-and stress-related, and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, as well as externalizing symptoms (corresponding to conduct disorder and ODD), present neuropsychological deficits and that their consideration may be relevant to improve the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions in children and adolescents by incorporating neuropsychology-based assessment and treatment tools. The inclusion of neuropsychological support strategies in therapy for childhood mental disorders implies an advance and has clear implications for the enhancement of psychological care for childhood mental disorders.
... 66.1% of the participants reported at least one of these traumatic experiences. The trauma exposure characteristics of this sample have been detailed previously (Li et al. 2019). ...
... Subscale scores were calculated as the sum of corresponding item responses. The Chinese version of the PedsQL scale has demonstrated good reliability and validity (Li et al. 2019). In our study sample, Cronbach's αs were 0.84, 0.85, 0.74 and 0.75 for each subscale, and 0.92 for the total scale. ...
This study was designed to investigate the roles of numbing of positive and negative emotions in PTSD symptomology and related functional impairments. 14,465 Chinese children and adolescents who personally experienced the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake (in Sichuan province, China) took part in the study. Emotional numbing and other PTSD symptoms were assessed by the University of California–Los Angeles PTSD Reaction Index for Children. Functional impairment was measured by the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scales. Item response theory (IRT) analysis showed that both numbing of positive and negative emotions demonstrated acceptable item response characteristics; numbing of positive emotions had better discrimination. Group comparisons revealed that participants who reported numbing of both positive and negative emotions had the highest risk of developing PTSD, most severe PTSD symptoms and functional impairments, with large effect sizes when compared with participants with no emotional numbing symptoms. Reporting only numbing of positive emotions had moderate effects, and reporting only numbing of negative emotions had smaller effects. The results revealed associations between emotional numbing patterns, posttraumatic stress symptoms and impairments in quality of life, and suggests that additional research is needed to explore generalized emotional numbing in children and adolescents in future PTSD research.
... Particularly affected by trauma are the frontal lobes, which are some of the last brain regions to fully develop (Gogtay & Thompson, 2010;Sinnamon, 2019). Indeed, it has been suggested that the cognitive processing difficulties, behavior abnormalities, and deficits in affect regulation and other executive functions as exhibited by children with PTSD may be partially due to the dysfunction of the dorsolateral prefrontal, orbitofrontal, and anterior cingulate cortices (Carrion & Weems, 2017;Li et al., 2019). ...
Background/objective:
In the last decade, socio-political violence in Colombia (South America) has created an environment of extreme/chronic stress. In this study, brain imaging technology (fMRI) and behavioral task performance were used to measure potential deficits in executive functioning for emotional processing in Colombian children.
Method:
Participants (22 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD and 22 neurotypical, NT) were asked to perform a word task with implicit emotional salience, which required them to report the color of the ink in which a positive, negative or neutral word was printed.
Results:
Mixed design analysis of variance showed no group differences in accuracy for determining ink color when presented as a positive or neutral word. However, PTSD children were significantly less accurate (negative words) and notably slower (both positive and negative words) at determining ink color when presented in the context of an emotional word. PTSD processing of positive and negative words was associated with hypoactivation in the superior and middle frontal gyri of the right hemisphere in comparison to NT children.
Conclusions:
These results may reflect a deficit in executive functioning for emotionally laden stimuli, perhaps induced as a by-product of their traumatic experiences.
Introduction: Earthquakes can cause mental health disorders in adolescents, one of which is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study aimed to assess the effect of social support on post-traumatic stress disorder in adolescents after an earthquake.Methods: The study was a systematic review with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) approach. Articles were searched for using the Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, EBSCO and SAGE databases before classifying them into 3 categories: prevalence, risk factors, social support, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The inclusion criteria regarding the literature were documents that were original; where the source was from a journal; where the article was written in English and where the full text was available. The age of the subjects in the articles was determined to be in the range of 10-20 years old. The publication time limit was 2015 to 2020.Results: Adolescents who experienced an earthquake were found to demonstrate a high prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder with the proportion in girls being higher than boys. Showing social support has a significant effect on PTSD after an earthquake. The earthquake-related factors that were the most strongly associated with probable PTSD were feeling scared of dying and exposure to an earthquake.Conclusion: Social support and the prevalence rates of PTSD should be observed in more detail. These results indicate that it is important to provide and strengthen the social support available to reduce the risk and severity of post-traumatic stress disorder after an earthquake among adolescents.
