Reorganization of unresolved childhood traumatic memories following exposure therapy.
As part of an ongoing randomized clinical trial for childhood-abuse-related PTSD, this study examined the association between PTSD and unresolved attachment as measured by the Adult Attachment Interview in a sample of 52 female childhood-abuse survivors. Results revealed that 55% of the sample was classified as preoccupied and almost 75% was classified as unresolved with regard to trauma. In a preliminary sample of 18 women who completed treatment, 13 were unresolved before treatment and 8 lost their unresolved status following treatment. This effect was significantly more pronounced in the exposure condition compared to the skills training condition.
University School of Medicine, Child Study Center, Institute for Trauma and Stress, 215 Lexington Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016, USA. stovak01@med.nyu.edu
K Chase
KC
Stovall-McClough
Marylene
M
Cloitre
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*; D013997:Time Factors