Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39801404›Full record

SynthesisActas espanolas de psiquiatria2025

Disgust and Other Negative Emotions in the Relationship between Mental Contamination and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review.

Antonia María Jiménez-Ros, Beatriz Marques, Gracia Delgado-Pardo, Ana Teresa Martins

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Actas espanolas de psiquiatria, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Antonia María Jiménez-RosPsychology Research Centre (CIP/UAL), Polo da Universidade do Algarve, Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, 1150-293 Lisboa, Portugal; Centro Universitário Investigação em Psicologia (CUIP) Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; Departamento de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
Beatriz MarquesDepartamento de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
Gracia Delgado-PardoDepartamento de Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamiento Psicológicos, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41018 Sevilla, Spain.
Ana Teresa MartinsCentro Universitário Investigação em Psicologia (CUIP) Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; Departamento de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMental contamination (MC) refers to feelings of internal filthiness associated with contamination obsessions. Ego-dystonic memories and thoughts can trigger MC, although it can also be activated by trauma, which is associated with the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research shows that MC, negative emotions and PTSD can occur simultaneously. Despite considerable interest from researchers and clinicians, to the best of our knowledge, no systematic review has been carried out on the relationship between disgust and other negative emotions with MC and PTSD. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review to summarise and synthesise the current understanding of these constructs in PTSD. The main objective of this study was to review the association between MC, post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma; the role of disgust and other negative emotions in these associations; and whether the relationship between MC and trauma is limited to traumatic sexual experiences.

methodWe searched PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, Scopus, Web of Science, Medline, PubMed, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Cochrane Library, APA PsycNet, and the Online Library of the University of Algarve. We also included grey literature published in Google Scholar. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies.

resultsTwenty studies met the inclusion criteria for the review. Among these, six studies used a randomised methodology, nine used a non-randomised methodology, and five used a descriptive methodology. The results showed that MC is associated with all types of interpersonal trauma, although the relationship with sexual trauma was the strongest. Both basic emotion and disgust sensitivity appear to be significantly associated with MC and the severity of PTSD symptoms. Similarly, other negative emotions are positively associated with MC, although the experience and reappraisal of negative emotions may potentially attenuate the experience of MC.

conclusionsBased on the findings, MC, disgust and negative emotions are important clinical constructs associated with trauma and PTSD. These results may contribute to our understanding and treatment of PTSD.

Indexed as

DisgustEmotionsStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticHumans

Identifiers

PMID39801404
PMCPMC11729624

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.