Using stressful films to analyze risk factors for PTSD in analogue experimental studies - which film works best?

    Authors:

    Weidmann, Anke1 anke.weidmann@psychologie.hu-berlin.de

    Conradi, Ania2

    Grögera, Kathrin1

    Fehma, Lydia1

    Fydrich, Thomas1

    Source:

    Anxiety, Stress & Coping; Oct2009, Vol. 22 Issue 5, p549-569, 21p, 6 Charts

    Document Type:

    Article

    Subject Terms:

    *POST-traumatic stress disorder

    *STRESS (Psychology)

    *MENTAL illness

    *MEMORY

    *MENTAL health

    RISK factors

    Author-Supplied Keywords:

    intrusive memories

    posttraumatic stress disorder

    risk factors

    stress

    stressful film paradigm

    trauma

    NAICS/Industry Codes:

    621330 Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians)

    Abstract:

    To understand mental disorders, analogue paradigms provide an indispensable contribution. In posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the stressful film paradigm is a frequently used analogue approach: Films depicting traumatic events are shown to non-clinical participants in order to elicit stress responses analogue to responses to traumatic events in real life. Previous studies used a large variety of films, which is problematic with regard to the comparability of results. The main goal of this study was to identify a film clip that (a) consistently provokes stress reactions and (b) provokes reactions that are as similar as possible to traumatic stress. We randomly exposed 105 male and female participants to one of four stressful films, differing, e.g., in content and origin. Intrusive memories of the film, reported immediately after the film and during a diary phase of three days, as well as distress, heart rate, and several mood states were measured. A film clip depicting rape elicited the most consistent reactions that were characterized by a higher heart rate, more distress and more intrusive memories, compared to the other three clips. Intrusive memories across all films were especially related to an increase in heart rate and disgust in response to the film. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

    Copyright of Anxiety, Stress & Coping is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

    Author Affiliations:

    1Institute of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    2Institute of Psychology, Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany ISSN:

    10615806

    DOI:

    10.1080/10615800802541986

    Accession Number:

    44032188

    Database:

    Academic Source Premier