Reward prospect improves inhibitory control in female university students with a history of childhood sexual and physical abuse

Meltem Kiyar; Miriam J J Lommen; Ruth M Krebs; Judith K Daniels; Sven C Mueller

doi:10.1016/j.jbtep.2020.101629

Reward prospect improves inhibitory control in female university students with a history of childhood sexual and physical abuse

J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 2021 Jun:71:101629. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2020.101629. Epub 2020 Nov 7.

Authors

Meltem Kiyar¹, Miriam J J Lommen², Ruth M Krebs³, Judith K Daniels², Sven C Mueller⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium.
² Department of Clinical Psychology and Experimental Psychopathology, University of Groningen, the Netherlands.
³ Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium.
⁴ Department of Experimental Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium; Department of Personality, Psychological Assessment and Treatment, University of Deusto, Bilbao, Spain. Electronic address: sven.mueller@ugent.be.

PMID: 33217704
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2020.101629

Abstract

Background and objectives: Childhood abuse and neglect increase the risk for psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression and anxiety) during adulthood and have been associated with deficits in cognitive control. The specific mechanisms underlying these cognitive control deficits are still unknown.

Methods: This study examined the expectation for reward to improve inhibitory control in young women (ages 18-35 years) with a history of childhood sexual and/or physical abuse (AG, N = 28), childhood emotional and/or physical neglect (NG, N = 30), or unaffected comparison women (HC, N = 40). They completed a previously validated rewarded (color-word) Stroop task and filled out questionnaires on depression, anxiety, and resilience.

Results: Surprisingly, a significant group by reward interaction revealed larger performance benefits under reward prospect (relative to no-reward) for the AG group relative to both the NG and HC groups.

Limitations: A small sample size limiting generalizability.

Conclusions: These results demonstrate sensitivity of abused subjects to reward in modulating cognitive control and might aid in discussing whether using reward schedules during therapeutic interventions could be effective.

Keywords: Abuse; Cognitive control; Maltreatment; Neglect; RDoC; Reward.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Adverse Childhood Experiences / psychology
Child
Child Abuse*
Female
Humans
Inhibition, Psychological*
Physical Abuse*
Reward*
Stroop Test
Students / psychology*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Universities
Young Adult