Clinical Psychological Science
Volume 5, Issue 3, 2017, Pages 497-512

Impact of Cognitive Reappraisal on Negative Affect, Heart Rate, and Intrusive Memories in Traumatized Refugees (Article)

Nickerson A.* , Garber B. , Liddell B.J. , Litz B.T. , Hofmann S.G. , Asnaani A. , Ahmed O. , Cheung J. , Huynh L. , Pajak R. , Bryant R.A.
  • a School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia
  • b School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia
  • c School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia
  • d Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiological Research and Information Center, Boston University, United States
  • e Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Boston University, United States
  • f Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, United States
  • g School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia
  • h School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia
  • i School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia
  • j School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia
  • k School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Australia

Abstract

While cognitive reappraisal represents a promising emotion regulation strategy to assist refugees with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in managing responses to trauma reminders, there has been no experimental research investigating its efficacy in reducing intrusions and negative affect in this group. In this study, 76 refugees and asylum-seekers with varying levels of PTSD received instructions in cognitive reappraisal or emotional suppression before viewing emotional images depicting trauma-related scenes. Findings indicated that cognitive reappraisal led to fewer subsequent image-related intrusions in refugees high in PTSD symptoms. Trait suppression moderated the efficacy of cognitive reappraisal such that participants high in PTSD who had low levels of trait suppression reported significantly lower levels of negative affect when using cognitive reappraisal compared to emotional suppression. These findings highlight the potential utility of cognitive reappraisal when assisting individuals with PTSD to manage responses trauma reminders and for informing the treatment of the psychological effects of the refugee experience. © 2017, © The Author(s) 2017.

Author Keywords

cognitive reappraisal posttraumatic stress disorder Refugees Trauma exposure Emotion regulation

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85019903851&doi=10.1177%2f2167702617690857&partnerID=40&md5=46d8767d673740dc2d9b4b50047b52a4
DOI: 10.1177/2167702617690857
ISSN: 21677026
Cited by: 9
Original Language: English