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Abstract
Rumination has been suggested to be an important factor maintaining posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). Using an analogue design, this study aimed to experimentally
test the hypothesis that trauma-related rumination maintains PTSD symptoms. Fifty-one
participants were first asked to give a detailed narrative of a negative life event
and were then randomly assigned to a rumination or distraction condition. In line
with the hypotheses, rumination about the event resulted in the maintenance of negative
mood and intrusive memories immediately after the manipulation whereas distraction
resulted in symptom reduction. However, this effect was reversed during a subsequent
symptom provocation task, in which distraction led to a greater increase in some of
the symptoms than rumination. Results are in line with the idea that rumination is
involved in the maintenance of PTSD but may suggest a complex relationship between
rumination and posttraumatic stress symptoms.