Assessment of Cognitions Associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

In recent years, a number of different cognitive theories of PTSD have
been proposed (e.g., Foa & Rothbaum, 1998; Ehlers & Clark, 2000). The present
study is focused on the assessment of cognitive aspects of PTSD. Specifically,
we investigated the interrelationships among various cognitive measures derived
from different theoretical models. Furthermore, the specificity of the
relationship of these cognitive measures with post-traumatic symptoms was also
investigated.
Research into the psychological aftermath of traumatic events suggests
that people's basic assumptions are affected by these events, for many years
and sometimes even permanently. Disruption of cognitive schemata about oneself,
about others and about the world might mediate the relationship between
traumatic event and PTSD (Cole & Putnam, 1992, Ferren, 1999, Ehlers & Clark,
2000). Different operationalizations of such cognitive schemata have been
addressed in research, including the *benevolence of the world* (Janoff-Bulman,
1989) the *meaning of the world* (Mc Cann & Pearlman, 1992), *self-
competence* (Foa, Tolin, Ehlers, Clark & Orsillo, 1999) and general beliefs
about oneself and the world (Foa & Riggs, 1993, Resick & Schicke, 1993). It has
been argued that the central theme running through the negative beliefs is one
of ongoing threat. Victims holding these types of negative basic assumptions
experience the traumatic event as continuing to have damaging implications,
despite the event being in the past. This sense of current threat then
precipitates the anxious symptomatology at the heart of PTSD (Ehlers et al.,
2000). In this study we took a closer look at the different measures that have
been developed to assess cognitions about the self and the world, and that have
been associated with PTSD.

The aim of the present study is to investigate: 1) the relationships among
different cognitive measures, and 2) the specific relationship of these
measures with PTSD symptoms.

Participants will undergo a structured face-to-face interview for psychiatric
symptoms (MINI Plus, duration approximately 30 minutes). Patients who do not
meet in- and exclusion criteria, will drop out from the study at this moment.
Then, the symptom (BDI II, SRIP) and cognitive measures (45 minutes) will be
administered. The total session (interview and questionnaires) lasts about 75
minutes.

There are no risks to be expected. The burden associated with participation is
low (75 minutes).