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.
Stovall-McClough
K Chase
KC
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
Cloitre
Marylene
M
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