Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences

The Effectiveness of Emotional Stimulus-based Working Memory Training in Improving the Cognitive Emotion Regulation in Adolescents with Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

zobair samimi 1
Moslem Kord 2
Fatemeh Mirdoraghi 3
Jafar Hasani 4

1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Education, Faculty of Education & Psychology, Azarbaijan Shahid Madani, Tabriz, Iran

2 Ph.D. Student, PhD Student of Cognitive Psychology, Institude for cognitive and brain science, Shahid Beheshti University

3 Ph.D. Student, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

4 Associate Professor, Department of clinical Psychology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Kharazmi University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of emotional stimulus-based working memory training in improving the cognitive emotion regulation strategies in adolescents with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD).
Methods: Based on the framework of single case and using multiple –baselines, 3 adolescents (2 females, 1 male) were candidated from one of the Labor Child Educational Centers of Karaj, using 2 instruments (SCID-I) and (IES-R). The participants, one by one, participated in 20 sessions of emotional working memory training. All participants were assessed during three stages (pre-training, during training, and 2-month follow-up), using Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire-Kids form (CERQ-k). Data were analyzed using the indexes for trend changes, gradients and revision of the charts, and the clinical significance was determined using Cohen's index, recovery percent and effect size.
Results: The results showed that emotional stimulus-based working memory training is significantly effective in increasing adaptive strategies and reducing maladaptive strategies of cognitive emotion regulation in adolescent with PTSD.
Conclusion: According to the results, emotional stimulus-based working memory training can be an effective alternative for improving the cognitive emotion regulation strategies in adolescents with PTSD.
 
 

Keywords

Post- traumatic Stress Disorder
cognitive emotion regulation strategies
Emotional Working Memory
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Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences
Volume 24, Issue 4
2017
Pages 298-311

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