After traumatic experiences, it is common to think about alternative scenarios or outcomes of the event. This is often referred to as counterfactual thoughts (CFT), and CFT after trauma have been associated with posttraumatic stress reactions (PTSR). In this study, we aimed to: (1) investigate the relationship between the vividness and frequency of CFT and PTSR, and to (2) examine the associations between exposure, peri-traumatic reactions, physical injury and the loss of someone close, and the subsequent vividness and frequency of CFT. The participants (N = 289) were survivors of a terror attack in Norway. More vivid and frequent CFT were significantly and independently related to more PTSR. Exposure during trauma was significantly associated with more vivid CFT in the unadjusted regression model. No further significant relationships were found between exposure, peri-traumatic reactions, physical injury and the loss of someone close, and the vividness and frequency of CFT. As CFT are common after trauma and potentially cause distress, clinicians should identify and validate CFT, and provide coping assistance.

中文翻译：

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“如果……怎么办？”：恐怖主义幸存者反事实思维的生动性和频率

在经历了创伤性经历之后，通常会考虑该事件的替代情景或结果。这通常被称为反事实思维 (CFT)，创伤后的 CFT 与创伤后应激反应 (PTSR) 相关。在这项研究中，我们的目的是：（1）调查 CFT 和 PTSR 的生动性和频率之间的关系，以及（2）检查暴露、创伤周围反应、身体伤害和失去亲人之间的关联，以及随后的 CFT 生动性和频率。参与者（N  = 289）是挪威恐怖袭击的幸存者。更生动和更频繁的 CFT 与更多 PTSR 显着且独立相关。在未调整的回归模型中，创伤期间的暴露与更生动的 CFT 显着相关。暴露、创伤周围反应、身体伤害和失去亲人以及 CFT 的生动性和频率之间没有发现进一步的显着关系。由于 CFT 在创伤后很常见，并可能导致痛苦，因此临床医生应识别和验证 CFT，并提供应对帮助。