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Innovations in the Study of Appraisals and PTSD: A Commentary

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Abstract

The purpose of our commentary is to underscore key take-home points of the 11 articles in this special series on appraisals and trauma. Two important take-home points relate to (i) the question of whether appraisals mediate the relationship between trauma and trauma-relevant symptoms, and (ii) the methodological innovations presented here. Further, we discuss three features characterizing this special issue. First, it includes papers examining the role of negative appraisals as a correlate, predictor, and potential causal risk factor of posttraumatic stress symptoms; second, the studies use a multifaceted approach to study negative appraisals; third, they range from theory-driven experimental research to applied clinical studies. We conclude by reflecting on challenges raised by these contributions and suggest directions for future research.

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Acknowledgements

Marcella L. Woud is supported by a grant of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG; WO2018/2-1).

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  1. Department of Psychology, Harvard University, 1230 William James Hall, 33 Kirkland Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    Richard J. McNally

  2. Mental Health Research and Treatment Center, Department of Psychology, Ruhr- Universität Bochum, Massenbergstrasse 9-13, 44787, Bochum, Germany

    Marcella L. Woud

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McNally, R.J., Woud, M.L. Innovations in the Study of Appraisals and PTSD: A Commentary. Cogn Ther Res 43, 295–302 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-018-09995-2

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