Jianlin Liu1, Mythily Subramaniam2, Siow Ann Chong2, Rathi Mahendran3. 1. National University of Singapore, and Research Division, Institute of Mental Health. 2. Research Division, Institute of Mental Health. 3. Department of Psychological Medicine, National University of Singapore.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Previous research has shown that emotion dysregulation after trauma is associated with increased posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity. However, it remains unclear how different dimensions of emotion dysregulation and cognitive insight may interact to predict Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) PTSD symptoms in early psychosis. The present study systematically examines cognitive emotion regulation strategies, global emotion dysregulation, and cognitive insight in relation to DSM-5 PTSD symptoms among trauma-exposed patients with early nonaffective psychosis. METHOD: A total of 150 outpatients with early nonaffective psychosis were screened for trauma exposure on the Stressful Life Events Questionnaire. Participants (N = 79; 52.6%) who met the DSM-5 Criterion A subsequently completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Difficulties With Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Beck Cognitive Insight Scale. Severity of psychotic and depressive symptoms were rated on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. RESULTS: Multivariate regression models adjusting for age, gender, psychotic and depressive symptoms revealed that PTSD symptom clusters were associated with more maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (catastrophic thinking, rumination, and other blame) and less adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and planning; Cohen's f² = 1.50-3.17). Further moderation analyses revealed a negative interaction between global emotion dysregulation and self-reflection on intrusive symptoms such that for patients with low self-reflectivity, global emotion dysregulation was associated with increased severity of intrusive symptoms (f² = 0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that addressing emotion dysregulation and cognitive insight may improve intrusive symptoms, and this may prevent the development of full PTSD in patients with early nonaffective psychosis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE: Previous research has shown that emotion dysregulation after trauma is associated with increased posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity. However, it remains unclear how different dimensions of emotion dysregulation and cognitive insight may interact to predict Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) PTSD symptoms in early psychosis. The present study systematically examines cognitive emotion regulation strategies, global emotion dysregulation, and cognitive insight in relation to DSM-5 PTSD symptoms among trauma-exposed patients with early nonaffective psychosis. METHOD: A total of 150 outpatients with early nonaffective psychosis were screened for trauma exposure on the Stressful Life Events Questionnaire. Participants (N = 79; 52.6%) who met the DSM-5 Criterion A subsequently completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Difficulties With Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Beck Cognitive Insight Scale. Severity of psychotic and depressive symptoms were rated on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. RESULTS: Multivariate regression models adjusting for age, gender, psychotic and depressive symptoms revealed that PTSD symptom clusters were associated with more maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (catastrophic thinking, rumination, and other blame) and less adaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and planning; Cohen's f² = 1.50-3.17). Further moderation analyses revealed a negative interaction between global emotion dysregulation and self-reflection on intrusive symptoms such that for patients with low self-reflectivity, global emotion dysregulation was associated with increased severity of intrusive symptoms (f² = 0.96). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that addressing emotion dysregulation and cognitive insight may improve intrusive symptoms, and this may prevent the development of full PTSD in patients with early nonaffective psychosis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).