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A dual representation theory of posttraumatic stress disorder.
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Abstract
A cognitive theory of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is proposed that assumes
traumas experienced after early childhood give rise to 2 sorts of memory, 1 verbally
accessible and 1 automatically accessible through appropriate situational cues. These
different types of memory are used to explain the complex phenomenology of PTSD, including
the experiences of reliving the traumatic event and of emotionally processing the
trauma. The theory considers 3 possible outcomes of the emotional processing of trauma,
successful completion, chronic processing, and premature inhibition of processing
We discuss the implications of the theory for research design, clinical practice,
and resolving contradictions in the empirical data.