Attempting suppression of traumatic memories over extended periods in acute stress disorder

This study investigated the influence of attempted suppression and thought control strategies on traumatic memories. Survivors of civilian trauma with acute stress disorder (ASD; n=20) and without ASD (n=20) monitored their trauma-related thoughts for three 24-h periods. In period 1, participants were instructed to think about anything. In period 2, participants were administered suppression or nonsuppression instructions relating to thoughts of the trauma. In period 3, participants were again instructed to think about anything. The results revealed no evidence for an increase in trauma-related thoughts following suppression instructions. Punishment and worry thought control strategies correlated significantly with both anxiety and suppression ratings. Frequency of intrusions was associated with a distraction cognitive strategy. These findings point to the importance of traumatised individualsʹ cognitive strategies in mediating the management and occurrence of posttraumatic intrusions.