Physical activity moderates the relationship between PTSD symptom severity and approach-avoidance conflict decision-making.

ABSTRACT: Avoidance of potentially dangerous contexts is beneficial for survival (i.e., adaptive avoidance), but the generalization of avoidance behavior to other generally safe contexts (i.e., maladaptive avoidance) can lead to detrimental mental health consequences, including diminished potential for reward. Decisions around pursuing reward in the presence of threat or avoiding threat at the cost of obtaining greater reward presents an approach-avoidance conflict (AAC). Although AAC is expected to be biased among trauma-exposed adults, especially those with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there have only been two prior behavioral investigations of AAC among adults with PTSD or experiencing PTSD symptoms. While greater levels of physical activity (PA) contribute to enhanced cognitive performa

SUBMITTER: Crombie KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12707461 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature