Using CBT to Probe Psychobiobehavioral Resilience to Post-trauma Psychopathology

Inclusion Criteria:

1. 18 years of age or older

2. fluent in English

3. history of childhood interpersonal trauma (e.g., sexual assault, physical assault,
witnessing assault before age 18)

4. mild to moderate distress indicated by a score of 10-20 on the depression scale, 8-14
on the anxiety scale, or 15-25 on the stress scale of the DASS-21.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. severe distress indicated by a score >20 on the depression scale, >14 on the anxiety
scale, or >25 on the stress scale of the DASS-21

2. DSM-5 criterion A trauma in the past month

3. color blindness based on self-report (because of inability to complete the fear
conditioning task)

4. auditory impairment based on audiometer screening (because of inability to complete
the fear conditioning task)

5. lifetime psychotic or bipolar disorder

6. substance abuse or dependence within past 6 months

7. concurrent psychotherapy initiated within 3 months of randomization

8. ongoing psychotherapy of any duration directed toward treatment of trauma-related
psychopathology (e.g., CBT)

9. must be on a stable dose of psychotropic or adrenergically-active medications (e.g.,
beta blockers) for at least 6 weeks prior to eligibility screening

10. mental retardation or significant cognitive impairment

11. serious medical illness or instability for which hospitalization may be likely within
the next year

12. significant suicidal ideation indicated by "yes" on Columbia Suicide Severity Rating
Scale item 4 (active suicidal ideation with some intent to act) or enacted suicidal
behaviors within 6 months prior to eligibility

13. current legal actions related to trauma.