Trait rumination predicts onset of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder through trauma-related cognitive appraisals: A 4-year longitudinal study
Abstract
Trauma-related rumination and worry predict chronic PTSD. This study examined whether habitual rumination and worry measured prior to trauma exposure make persons more vulnerable to the onset of PTSD, presumably because habitual ruminators and worriers will be more prone to cognitively appraise trauma exposure in a negative way. A sample of 2981 adults aged 18-65, consisting of healthy controls and persons with past or current depressive and/or anxiety disorders were assessed at baseline and at follow-up four years later (n = 2402). At follow-up, 359 participants reported exposure to a traumatic event during the last four years of whom 52 (14.4%) had developed PTSD. Pre-trauma self-reported depression severity and trait rumination - but not trait worry-predicted onset of PTSD during follow-up, controlling for demographic and clinical history variables, as well as psychiatric diagnoses at baseline. The relation of trait rumination with onset of PTSD was partly mediated by the cognitive appraisal of the traumatic event and not by the affective reaction to trauma exposure. Repetitive negative thinking in the form of rumination may be a risk factor for onset of PTSD amenable to prevention and intervention.
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Rumination is associated with PTS.
“Worry and rumination are regulatory strategies which have been found to be associated with PTS in prior research (Ehring, Frank, & Ehlers, 2008;Spinhoven, Penninx, Krempeniou, van Hemert, & Elzinga, 2015)”
From Experiential acceptance and trait‐mindfulness as predictors of analogue post‐traumatic stress. (2018) · cites this paper as Spinhoven, Penninx, Krempeniou, van Hemert, & Elzinga, 2015
Worry is associated with PTS.
“Worry and rumination are regulatory strategies which have been found to be associated with PTS in prior research (Ehring, Frank, & Ehlers, 2008;Spinhoven, Penninx, Krempeniou, van Hemert, & Elzinga, 2015)”
From Experiential acceptance and trait‐mindfulness as predictors of analogue post‐traumatic stress. (2018) · cites this paper as Spinhoven, Penninx, Krempeniou, van Hemert, & Elzinga, 2015
These findings accord with prior evidence (Breslau & Schultz, 2013; Ehring et al., 2008; Spinhoven et al., 2015).
“These findings accord with prior evidence (e.g., Breslau & Schultz, 2013;Ehring et al., 2008;Spinhoven et al., 2015).”
From Experiential acceptance and trait‐mindfulness as predictors of analogue post‐traumatic stress. (2018) · cites this paper as Spinhoven et al., 2015
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- Authors
- Spinhoven, P., Penninx, B. W., Krempeniou, A., van Hemert, A. M., & Elzinga, B.
- Affiliations
- Leiden University (NL)
- Amsterdam Public Health (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Spinhoven, Philip
- Venue
- Behaviour Research and Therapy
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-08
- Volume
- 71
- Pages
- 101-109
- ISSN
- 0005-7967 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W626763653
- Cited by
- 84
- References
- 22
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 10
- FWCI
- 9.52
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behaviour Research and Therapy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Pure Amsterdam UMC (publishedVersion)
- Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (publishedVersion)
- VU Research Portal (publishedVersion)
- Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
- Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (10-000-1002)
- GGZ inGeest
- Leiden University
- Rivierduinen
- Lentis
- GGZ Friesland
- GGZ Drenthe
- NWO (016.085.353)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- trait rumination, trait worry, repetitive negative thinking, depression, anxiety disorders, trauma exposure, PTSD risk factors, PTSD prevention, mediation
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Anxiety, Anxiety Disorders, Cognition, Depression, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Longitudinal Studies, Male, Middle Aged, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Wounds and Injuries, Case-Control Studies, Prodromal Symptoms
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