Exploration of the relationship between social cognition and PTSD
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploration of the relationship between social cognition and PTSD in the pre, peri and post-trauma period.
IRAS ID
263222
Contact name
Stan Zammit
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bristol
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
B2375, ALSPAC project reference
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Post-traumatic disorder (PTSD) is a disabling psychiatric illness that can occur following a very distressing event, such as sexual assault or war. People with this illness experience very upsetting and intrusive memories and nightmares, have a heightened sense of threat, and avoid reminders of the event. However, not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will develop PTSD; this project tries to better understand why that is, by examining the role of social cognition in both the onset and recovery of PTSD.
Social cognition is the ability to understand emotions in yourself and others, and it has been put forward that difficulties with social cognition may increase the risk of developing PTSD. Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a large cohort study of children born in 1991/1992, the research team will examine whether difficulties with social cognition in childhood lead to an increased risk of developing PTSD in adults. The researchers will then study around 50 adult patients with PTSD and assess their social cognition and review their progress after several months to see if social cognition difficulties affect recovery from PTSD. Before the study with PTSD patients take place, the tests used to measure social cognition will be trialled in a feasibility study with healthy volunteers. This research project could have implications for the way that we understand and treat PTSD.
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/SC/0289
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jul 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion