The trauma film paradigm as an experimental psychopathology model of psychological trauma: intrusive memories and beyond.
A better understanding of psychological trauma is fundamental to clinical psychology. Following traumatic event(s), a clinically significant number of people develop symptoms, including those of Acute Stress Disorder and/or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The trauma film paradigm offers an experimental psychopathology model to study both exposure and reactions to psychological trauma, including the hallmark symptom of intrusive memories. We reviewed 74 articles that have used this paradigm since the earliest review (Holmes & Bourne, 2008) until July 2014. Highlighting the different stages of trauma processing, i.e. pre-, peri- and post-trauma, the studies are divided according to manipulations before, during and after film viewing, for experimental as well as correlational designs. While the majority of studies focussed on the frequency of intrusive memories, other reactions to trauma were also modelled. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the trauma film paradigm as an experimental psychopathology model of trauma, consider ethical issues, and suggest future directions. By understanding the basic mechanisms underlying trauma symptom development, we can begin to translate findings from the laboratory to the clinic, test innovative science-driven interventions, and in the future reduce the debilitating effects of psychopathology following stressful and/or traumatic events.
Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF, United Kingdom; University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7NG, United Kingdom.
Ella L
EL
James
Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF, United Kingdom.
Alex
A
Lau-Zhu
University of Oxford Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford OX3 7NG, United Kingdom.
Ian A
IA
Clark
Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF, United Kingdom.
Renée M
RM
Visser
Utrecht University, Department of Clinical Psychology, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Muriel A
MA
Hagenaars
Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, 15 Chaucer Road, Cambridge CB2 7EF, United Kingdom; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. Electronic address: emily.holmes@mrc-cbu.cam.ac.uk.
Emily A
EA
Holmes
D006801:Humans; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009040:Motion Pictures; D000067073:Psychological Trauma
Acute stress disorder; Experimental medicine model; Experimental psychopathology; Flashbacks; Intrusive memory; Involuntary memory; Mental imagery; Post traumatic stress disorder; Stressful film; Trauma; Trauma film; Traumatic film