Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Both human and animal studies indicate that early trauma can influence brain development and
can lead to dysregulation and dysfunction. This includes cognitive deficits. The risk of childhood trauma (CHT)
and resulting cognitive deficits are well established in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is not the
case for Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD). The experience of CHT does not inevitably lead to later
psychopathology, suggesting that resiliency factors may be at play. Indeed, research shows that resilience is
protective against the development of PTSD although this has not been well studied in SAD, particularly in the
context of childhood trauma and neurocognition. Methods: This exploratory study assessed for the possible
contribution of CHT on cognitive functioning in adults with SAD. We assessed 44 individuals who formed part
of a larger study on neurocognitive and neuroimaging correlates in a sample drawn from the Western Cape,
South Africa. Using a neuropsychological test battery, memory, attention and executive functioning (EF)
(underpinned by hippocampal, cingulate cortex and pre frontal-cortex function respectively) were assessed.
CHT was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ). We compared neurocognitive and
resilience (CD-RISC) variables across four groups (SAD with trauma, SAD without trauma, PTSD and healthy
controls) using analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistics. Results: None of the groups differed significantly on
cognitive variables, however, on average all outcomes were in the predicted direction. Separate analyses for the
traumatised groups only showed a significant effect for EF and attention, suggesting an association between EF,
attention and CHT. On a measure of resilience, healthy controls had significantly higher resilience scores than
the other 3 groups. Unexpectedly, SAD and PTSD groups with CHT had higher resilience scores than the SAD
group without CHT, suggesting that resilience moderates CHT. Lastly individuals with SAD and PTSD with
CHT reported more emotional abuse and neglect than any other type of childhood trauma. Conclusion: This
exploratory study is unique in its comparative assessment of the effects of CHT and resilience on discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Beide mens- en dierestudies dui daarop dat vroeë trauma brein ontwikkeling kan beïnvloed en kan
lei tot disfunksie. Dit sluit kognitiewe tekortkominge in. Die risiko van vroeë kinderjare trauma (KJT) en die
gevolglike kognitiewe tekortkominge is goed gevestig in Posttraumatiese stresversteuring (PTSV). Dit is egter
nie die geval in Sosiale angsversteuring (SAV) nie. Die ervaring van KJT lei nie noodwendig tot latere
psigopatologie nie, wat daarop dui dat veerkragtigheidsfaktore 'n rol kan speel. Trouens, navorsing toon dat
veerkragtigheid beskermend is teen die ontwikkeling van PTSV, maar dit is egter nie behoorlik nagevors in
SAV nie - veral nie in die konteks van vroeë kinderjare en neurokognisie nie. Metodologie: Hierdie
verkennende studie het die invloed van KJT op kognitiewe funksionering in 44 individue geëvalueer. Hierdie
studie het deel gevorm van 'n groter studie oor neurokognitiewe- en neurobeeldingskorrelate in 'n steekproef
wat gewerf is uit die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika. ‘n Neurosielkundige toetsbattery was gebruik om geheue, aandag
en uitvoerende funksionering (UF) (wat onderskeidelik deur die hippokampus, cingulate korteks en
prefrontale korteks ondersteun word) te assesseer. KJT is beoordeel met die "Childhood Trauma Questionnaire"
(CTQ). 'n Analise van variansie (ANOVA) was gebruik om die neurokognitiewe en veerkragtigheid (CD-RISC)
veranderlikes oor vier groepe (SAV met trauma, SAV sonder trauma, PTSV en gesonde kontrole) te vergelyk.
Resultate: Nie een van die groepe het beduidend verskil van mekaar op grond van kognitiewe veranderlikes nie,
maar oor die algemeen was alle uitkomste in die voorspelde rigting. Afsonderlike analises op die
getraumatiseerde groepe het 'n beduidende effek gehad vir UF en aandag, wat dui op 'n assosiasie tussen UF, aandag en KJT. Die gesonde kontrole het beduidende hoër veerkragtigheid tellings as die ander 3 groepe gehad.
SAV en PTSV groepe met KJT het teen verwagtinge hoër veerkragtigheidstellings gehad as die SAV sonder
KJT, wat daarop dui dat veerkragtigheid KJT modereer. Laastens, individue met SAV en PTSV met KJT het
meer emosionele mishandeling en verwaarlosing gerapporteer as enige ander tipe kinderjare trauma.
Bespreking: Hierdie verkennende studie is uniek in sy vergelykende evaluering van die invloed van KJT en
veerkragtigheid op die neurokognisie in deelnemers met SAV en PTSV. Beperkings en aanbevelings vir
toekomstige navorsing word bespreek.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/80200 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Bakelaar, Susanne Yvette |
| Contributors | Seedat, Soraya, Kagee, Ashraf, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Psychology. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | Unknown |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 225 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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