A-131: Moderating Effects of Childhood Maltreatment on the Relationship Between Fear Generalization and Subsequent Development of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in Adults

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether the type of Childhood Maltreatment experienced had a moderating effect on the relationship between a Fear Generalization task and development of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) symptoms. Method/Data Selection: Individuals (18-59) who experienced a traumatic event resulting in admission to the Emergency Department of Froedert Hospital/Medical College of Wisconsin were recruited to participate (79 participants). Both Child Maltreatment presence and Fear Generalization(FG) task were conducted at intake (2-week post-trauma). PTSD symptoms were gathered using the PTSD Checklist (PCL-5) 12-month follow-up. Results/Data Synthesis: Moderating analyses were conducted, which showed significant moderating effects on FG Reaction Time and PCL-5 scores for C2 (b= 6.42, z=0.01 CI [-0.0322,-0.0038], p = 0.0134) and CS+ (b= 7.03, z=0.01 CI [-0.0293,-0.0042], p = 0.0098) trials; and Minimization & Denial for CS+ trials (b= 4.21, z=0.01 CI [0.0002,0.0104], p = 0.0438). Results also showed significant moderating effects on FG task Ratings and PCL-5 scores for Physical Neglect for the CS- (b= 5.95, z=6.05 CI [-26.8056,-2.7048], p = 0.0171) and CS+ (b= 7.11, z=4.95 CI [3.3330,23.0610], p = 0.0094) trials; Minimization and Denial for the CS- trial (b= 4.27, z=3.01 CI [0.2264,12.2362], p = 0.0422); and Emotional Abuse for C1 (b= 7.41, z=5.24 CI [3.8270, 24.7062], p = 0.0081), C2 (b=4.51, z=6.96 CI [0.9071,28.6627], p = 0.0081), and CS+(b= 12.69, z=4.78 CI [7.4924,26.5199], p = 0.0006) trials. Conclusions: Results highlight that neglect-based Child Maltreatment had a stronger moderating effect on both how threatening ambiguous stimuli were perceived and how quickly a participant deemed a stimulus as threatening or not.