Individuals living in Canterbury (New Zealand) have experienced significant stress related to the Canterbury earthquake sequence. Previous research conducted at the Department of Psychological Medicine (Christchurch, New Zealand) has shown significant cognitive difficulties in a group of Cantabrians exposed to high levels of earthquake trauma. A high proportion (30%) perceive themselves to have significant cognitive difficulties, even seven years post-earthquake. People who perceive that they have cognitive difficulties find this distressing and tend to function less well in work and parenting. Understanding pathways underlying cognitive difficulties in the population is vital for developing appropriate treatments and strategies to help with this. This will be the first study to investigate rates of, and factors contributing to, perceived cognitive difficulties in a large population exposed to multiple stressors and is important for the population of Canterbury, and populations affected by natural and man-made disasters worldwide. Four hundred and sixty people who were exposed to the Canterbury earthquake sequence will be recruited from the Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS). Psychological, cognitive, functional and biological factors will be compared between those with the greatest levels of perceived cognitive difficulty and those with the lowest levels of difficulty. This will determine what factors relate most strongly to perceived cognitive difficulties, which will in turn be used to develop treatments for this population.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
128
Exposure to the Canterbury earthquake sequence and other relevant psychological trauma
Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch
Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
Subjective cognitive function
Assessed with the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire Minimum score = 0, maximum score = 100, higher scores reflect worse subjective cognitive function
Time frame: Past 6 months
Global cognitive composite
Global cognitive composite will average Z-scores across the cognitive domains of (i) verbal learning and memory, (ii) visuospatial learning and memory, (iii) psychomotor speed, (iv) executive function, (v) working memory, (vi) sustained attention, and (vii) emotion processing. The Global cognitive composite score will be a single, averaged Z-value score, with a higher score reflecting better objective cognitive performance.
Time frame: Baseline
Verbal learning and memory
Z-scores from variables of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test will be averaged to create a singe Z-score for the domain of 'Verbal Learning and Memory', with higher scores reflecting better performance.
Time frame: Baseline
Visuospatial learning and memory
Z-scores from variables of the Groton Maze Learning Test (CogState) will be averaged to create a singe Z-score for the domain of 'Visuospatial Learning and Memory', with higher scores reflecting better performance.
Time frame: Baseline
Psychomotor speed
Z-scores from variables of the Timed Chase Test (CogState), Trail Making Test - Part A, and Digit Symbol Coding Test will be averaged to create a singe Z-score for the domain of 'Psychomotor speed', with higher scores reflecting better performance.
Time frame: Baseline
Executive function
Z-scores from variables of the Trail Making Test - Part B and Category Fluency will be averaged to create a singe Z-score for the domain of 'Executive function', with higher scores reflecting better performance.
Time frame: Baseline
Working memory
Z-scores from variables of the Digit Span Test will be averaged to create a singe Z-score for the domain of 'Working memory', with higher scores reflecting better performance.
Time frame: Baseline
Sustained attention
Z-scores from variables of the Continuous Performance Test will be averaged to create a singe Z-score for the domain of 'Sustained attention', with higher scores reflecting better performance.
Time frame: Baseline
Facial emotion processing
Z-scores from variables of the Facial Expression Recognition Test and the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test will be averaged to create a singe Z-score for the domain of 'Facial emotion processing', with higher scores reflecting better performance.
Time frame: Baseline
Rumination
Assessed with the Ruminative Responses Scale Minimum score = 25, maximum score = 100, higher scores reflect more severe rumination
Time frame: Baseline
Metacognitive beliefs
Assessed with the Metacognitions Questionnaire - 30-item version Minimum score = 30, maximum score = 120, higher scores reflect more problematic metacognitive beliefs Minimum score = 25, maximum score = 100, higher scores reflect more severe rumination
Time frame: Baseline
Psychosocial functioning
Assessed with the Social Adjustment Scale Minimum score = 1, maximum score = 5, higher scores reflect worse psychosocial functioning
Time frame: Past 2 weeks
Stressful life events
Number of stressful life events is assessed with the Life Events Scale (adapted from the Crisis in Family Systems - Revised Questionnaire) Minimum score = 0, higher score reflects more stressful life events
Time frame: Past 5 years
COVID-19 impact
Assessed with the COVID Psychosocial Impacts Scale (CPIS) Minimum score = 0, maximum score = 135, higher scores reflect more severe impact of COVID
Time frame: Past 3 years
Post-traumatic growth
Assessed with the Post-traumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI)
Time frame: Past 12 years
Mental health diagnoses
Assessed with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI)
Time frame: Baseline
Metabolic markers
Blood levels of HbA1C, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (calc), triglycerides
Time frame: Baseline
Inflammation
Blood levels of CRP
Time frame: Baseline
Sex hormones
Blood levels of progesterone, LH, FSH, testosterone, SHBG (females only)
Time frame: Baseline
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