title: Attentional control affects the relationship between tonic immobility and intrusive memories.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cognitive control and tonic immobility (TI) have both been implicated in the development of PTSD, but it is not known how these factors are related. The present study investigated if a specific form of cognitive control (attentional control) would moderate the relationship between TI and intrusive memories.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 43) completed the Attentional Control Scale (ACS) before watching an aversive film. They completed the Tonic Immobility Scale (TIS, with an immobility and fear subscale: TIS-TI and TIS-Fear) afterwards and recorded intrusive memories of the film in the subsequent week.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TIS-TI was related to intrusion frequency, while ACS was not. However, ACS had a moderating role; the relationship between TIS-TI and intrusion frequency was significant in low ACS but not in high ACS participants. The TIS-Fear subscale was not related to intrusion frequency in low ACS or high ACS participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Replication of the results is merited in selected extreme groups and males.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results may imply that enhanced attentional control serves as a protective factor against the development of intrusive memories after trauma.
authors: Department of Clinical Health and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, PO. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands. mhagenaars@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
authors: Muriel A
authors: MA
authors: Hagenaars
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Putman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001288:Attention; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046353:Immobility Response, Tonic; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D010555:Personality Inventory