An exploratory study of emotional forecasting and experience disparities in PTSD: insights from a virtual reality paradigm.

ABSTRACT: Background: Emotional disturbances are central to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and shape how individuals anticipate and experience events.Objective: This study investigates affective forecasting and emotional experience among PTSD patients, trauma-exposed controls (TEC), and healthy controls (HC) using a novel virtual reality paradigm.Method: Eighty-six participants (30 PTSD, 28 TEC, 28 HC) rated their predicted and actual emotional responses (valence and arousal) to unpleasant, neutral, and pleasant virtual scenarios. Physiological measures included heart rate and skin conductance responses (SCR).Results: PTSD participants showed alterations in their affective forecasting and emotional experience, assigning significantly lower valence scores to pleasant and neutral scenarios and

SUBMITTER: Loisel-Fleuriot L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12379702 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature