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Aphantasia and alexithymia predict complex PTSD symptoms
PsyArXiv Preprints
Swansea University Author:
Edwin Burns
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DOI (Published version): 10.31234/osf.io/kj5d3
Abstract
Aphantasia is characterised by a complete, or almost complete, absence of visual imagery. Prior work has hinted that these individuals may experience qualitative alterations in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD) in contrast to neurotypicals. However, higher levels of alexithymia (i.e., di...
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v2 66615 2024-06-10 Aphantasia and alexithymia predict complex PTSD symptoms fd2ee0c494abf5744c49ab6dd1f034bc 0000-0002-5938-5457 Edwin Burns Edwin Burns true false 2024-06-10 PSYS Aphantasia is characterised by a complete, or almost complete, absence of visual imagery. Prior work has hinted that these individuals may experience qualitative alterations in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD) in contrast to neurotypicals. However, higher levels of alexithymia (i.e., difficulties identifying one’s own emotions) and trauma exposure have been linked to PTSD and possibly aphantasia. We therefore wondered if aphantasia would be associated with the most widely used PTSD symptom measures (i.e., the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5: PCL-5; and the International Trauma Questionnaire: ITQ) when alexithymia, trauma levels, sex at birth and age were considered. We replicated prior work in finding alexithymia positively predicts symptoms across all PTSD and complex PTSD measures, their subscales, and their related functional impairments. By contrast, aphantasia was not clearly linked to PTSD symptoms in global PCL-5 or ITQ scores, nor in any of the PCL-5 subscales. Despite this, aphantasia was associated with a reduction in the ITQ’s re-experiencing of traumatic events subscale, and an increase in complex PTSD symptoms, i.e., disturbances in self-organization and its related functional impairments, negative self-concepts, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships. Given their elevated levels of complex PTSD symptoms, those with aphantasia may require greater support than is currently considered. Moreover, these findings support suggestions that the disturbances in self-organisation associated with complex PTSD may be partially distinct from the core symptoms of PTSD. Journal Article PsyArXiv Preprints Center for Open Science 0 0 0 0001-01-01 10.31234/osf.io/kj5d3 Preprint article before certification by peer review. COLLEGE NANME Psychology School COLLEGE CODE PSYS Swansea University 2024-07-24T13:54:52.7782546 2024-06-10T09:08:40.6623510 Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences School of Psychology Emmanual Ale 1 Edwin Burns 0000-0002-5938-5457 2 |
title |
Aphantasia and alexithymia predict complex PTSD symptoms |
spellingShingle |
Aphantasia and alexithymia predict complex PTSD symptoms Edwin Burns |
title_short |
Aphantasia and alexithymia predict complex PTSD symptoms |
title_full |
Aphantasia and alexithymia predict complex PTSD symptoms |
title_fullStr |
Aphantasia and alexithymia predict complex PTSD symptoms |
title_full_unstemmed |
Aphantasia and alexithymia predict complex PTSD symptoms |
title_sort |
Aphantasia and alexithymia predict complex PTSD symptoms |
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fd2ee0c494abf5744c49ab6dd1f034bc |
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fd2ee0c494abf5744c49ab6dd1f034bc_***_Edwin Burns |
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Edwin Burns |
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Emmanual Ale Edwin Burns |
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PsyArXiv Preprints |
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10.31234/osf.io/kj5d3 |
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Center for Open Science |
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Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Sciences |
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description |
Aphantasia is characterised by a complete, or almost complete, absence of visual imagery. Prior work has hinted that these individuals may experience qualitative alterations in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSD) in contrast to neurotypicals. However, higher levels of alexithymia (i.e., difficulties identifying one’s own emotions) and trauma exposure have been linked to PTSD and possibly aphantasia. We therefore wondered if aphantasia would be associated with the most widely used PTSD symptom measures (i.e., the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5: PCL-5; and the International Trauma Questionnaire: ITQ) when alexithymia, trauma levels, sex at birth and age were considered. We replicated prior work in finding alexithymia positively predicts symptoms across all PTSD and complex PTSD measures, their subscales, and their related functional impairments. By contrast, aphantasia was not clearly linked to PTSD symptoms in global PCL-5 or ITQ scores, nor in any of the PCL-5 subscales. Despite this, aphantasia was associated with a reduction in the ITQ’s re-experiencing of traumatic events subscale, and an increase in complex PTSD symptoms, i.e., disturbances in self-organization and its related functional impairments, negative self-concepts, and difficulties in interpersonal relationships. Given their elevated levels of complex PTSD symptoms, those with aphantasia may require greater support than is currently considered. Moreover, these findings support suggestions that the disturbances in self-organisation associated with complex PTSD may be partially distinct from the core symptoms of PTSD. |
published_date |
0001-01-01T13:54:51Z |
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1805465096808300544 |
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11.024244 |