A network analysis of two conceptual approaches to the etiology of PTSD

Two prominent conceptual models of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are the cognitive model, associated with cognitive processing therapy (CPT; Resick & Schnicke, 1992), and the functional contextualist model, underlying acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT; Hayes et al., 1999). Network analysis was used to examine dynamic interactions among cognitive (relating to CPT) and functional contextualistic (relating to ACT) variables and PTSD symptoms in a sample of 722 trauma-exposed adults. Results from the cognitive networks highlighted the importance of maladaptive beliefs about threat in maintaining the co-occurrence of PTSD symptoms and cognitive variables. Additionally, PTSD symptoms were more likely to lead to cognitive variables, rather than the reverse direction. Results from the functional contextualist networks identified numerous associations amongst variables that contribute to the co-occurrence of PTSD symptoms and psychological inflexibility. Findings from this study may help generate causal hypotheses that can be tested further using a longitudinal study design.