Attention bias toward threatening faces in women with PTSD: eye tracking correlates by symptom cluster

Figures & data

Figure 1. Example of emotional images from dot probe with visual gaze pattern, as captured by eye tracking device, superimposed.

Table 1. Descriptive details for variables of interest.

	Mean (SD); range
TEI Total Score	6.07 (3.34); 1–16
CAPS Re-experiencing	4.26 (4.38); 0–17
CAPS Avoidance	2.88 (2.12); 0–8
CAPS Anhedonia/Numbing	2.82 (2.63); 0–10
CAPS Hyperarousal	6.89 (4.07); 0–16
Happy initial fixation difference score (ms)	−0.01 (0.20); −1.06–0.57
Angry initial fixation difference score (ms)	0.05 (0.29); −0.58–1.33
Happy dwell duration difference score (ms)	0.05 (0.22); −0.88–0.58
Angry dwell duration difference score (ms)	0.05 (0.17) −0.35–0.55
	% (N)
PTSD Diagnosis (CAPS)	47.1 (33)
Trauma Type	% Exposed
Natural Disaster	32.9
Experienced Serious Accident or Injury	58.6
Experienced Sudden Life-threatening Illness	27.5
Witnessed Close Friend/Family Member Murdered	15.7
Attacked with a Weapon by Significant Other	27.1
Attacked without a Weapon by Significant Other	54.3
Attacked with a Weapon by Others (not romantic partner)	28.6
Attacked without a Weapon by Others (not romantic partner)	34.3
Witnessed Family Member Attacked with a Weapon	28.6
Witnessed Non-family Member Attacked with a Weapon	37.1
Witnessed Family Member Attacked without a Weapon	45.7
Witnessed Non-family Member Attacked without a Weapon	35.7
Witnessed Violence between Caregivers	42.9
Experienced Physical Abuse	25.7
Experienced Emotional Abuse	37.7
Experienced Sexual Abuse prior to age 13	32.9
Experienced Sexual Abuse (age 13–17; with physical force)	25.7
Experienced Sexual Assault (age 18+; with physical force)	24.6

N = 70; TEI = Traumatic Events Inventory; CAPS = Clinical Administered PTSD Scale

Table 2. Mean differences across initial fixation and dwell duration toward angry faces and PTSD diagnosis based on Analysis of Variance results.

	PTSD- n = 37	PTSD+ n = 33
	Mean (SD)	Mean (SD)
Angry initial fixation difference score (ms)	0.03 (0.24)	0.07 (0.34)
Angry dwell difference score (ms)	0.01 (0.16)	0.10 (0.16)*

*Reflects mean differences significant at p < .05 in between-group analysis

Table 3. Bivariate correlations between trauma load and current PTSD symptom clusters with difference scores for mean initial fixation and dwell duration of viewing angry faces compared to neutral faces.

	Angry Initial Fixation Diff	Angry Dwell Diff
TEI Total Score	0.04	0.04
CAPS Re-experiencing	0.23	0.24*
CAPS Avoidance	0.29*	0.23
CAPS Anhedonia/Numbing	0.13	0.05
CAPS Hyperarousal	0.22	0.12

N = 70; *p < .05; TEI = Traumatic Events Inventory; CAPS = Clinician Administered PTSD Scale

Table 4. Hierarchical linear regression predicting mean initial fixation and dwell duration difference scores for angry faces by trauma load and PTSD symptoms.

Predicting Attention Bias toward Angry Faces vs Neutral Faces	Stand β	T	R	R^2change	Fchange	pchange
Initial Fixation Difference Score
Step 1			0.07	0.004	0.29	0.59
TEI Total Score	0.07	0.54
Step 2			0.29	0.08	5.83	0.019*
TEI Total Score	−0.03	−0.23
CAPS Avoidance	0.30	2.42*
Dwell Duration Difference Score
Step 1			0.04	0.002	0.13	0.71
TEI Total Score	0.29	2.49*
Step 2			0.25	0.06	4.20	0.043*
TEI Total Score	−0.05	−0.37
CAPS Re-experiencing	0.26	2.05*

N = 70; *p < .05; TEI = Traumatic Events Inventory; CAPS = Clinician Administered PTSD Scale