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Behavioral/cognitive conceptualizations of post-traumatic stress disorder - ScienceDirect
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Behavior Therapy
Volume 20, Issue 2, Spring 1989, Pages 155-176
Behavioral/cognitive conceptualizations of posttraumatic stress disorder *
Edna B. Foa
, Gail Steketee, Barbara
Olasov Rothbaum
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https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(89)80067-X
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The paper reviews and considers the existing cognitive and behavioral accounts for the
acquisition and maintenance of post-traumatic stress disorder. Mowrer's two-stage theory as
applied to rape victims and Vietnam veterans is critically reviewed. It was concluded that
traditional S-R learning theories can adequately account for fear and avoidance consequent to a
traumatic event, as well as the greater generalization as compared to simple phobics. However,
these theories do not explain the remaining PTSD symptoms. The literature on experimental
neurosis predicts that uncontrollable and unpredictable events produce responses that are highly
reminiscent of PTSD irrespective of stimulus intensity and complexity. An additional
shortcoming of S-R theory is the difficulty in incorporating meaning concepts which are so
central to PTSD. Evidence for the necessity of a theory to accommodate meaning concepts is the
finding that perceived threat is a better predictor of PTSD than actual threat. Therefore, we have
presented a theoretical framework developed by Foa & Kozak (1986) which accommodates
meaning concepts in explaining mechanisms of fear reduction and adapted this theory to PTSD.
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Behavioral/cognitive conceptualizations of post-traumatic stress disorder - ScienceDirect
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Support for the preparation of this manuscript was provided in part by NIMH Grants MH 42178 and MH 31634
awarded to the first author.
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Copyright © 1989 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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