Cognitive inhibition and interference in dissociative identity disorder: the effects of anxiety on specific executive functions.
Using an experimentally based, computer-presented task, this study assessed cognitive inhibition and interference in individuals from the dissociative identity disorder (DID; n=12), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; n=12) and non-clinical (n=12) populations. Participants were assessed in a neutral and emotionally negative (anxiety provoking) context, manipulated by experimental instructions and word stimuli. The DID sample displayed effective cognitive inhibition in the neutral but not the anxious context. The GAD sample displayed the opposite findings. However, the interaction between group and context failed to reach significance. There was no indication of an attentional bias to non-schema specific negative words in any sample. Results are discussed in terms of the potential benefit of weakened cognitive inhibition during anxious arousal in dissociative individuals.
Dorahy
Martin J
MJ
Trauma Resource Centre, North and West Belfast HSS Trust, Northern Ireland; School of Psychology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland. m.dorahy@qub.ac.uk
McCusker
Chris G
CG
Loewenstein
Richard J
RJ
Colbert
Kimberly
K
Mulholland
Ciaran
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D001288:Attention; D009105:Dissociative Identity Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests